Frequency of motor alterations detected through manometry in patients with esophageal symptoms and scleroderma.

BACKGROUND

Scleroderma can present with esophageal involvement causing important morbidity.

AIMS: To describe the manometric findings and clinical characteristics of patients with scleroderma and esophageal symptoms.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Patients with scleroderma and esophageal symptoms were evaluated through esophageal manometry within the time frame of one year. Descriptive statistics were carried out and the continuous variables were expressed as means and standard deviation. Frequencies were expressed as percentages.

RESULTS

The study included 24 female patients with a mean age of 53.5 years and mean disease progression of 7.84 years. The most frequent findings were short and hypotonic lower esophageal sphincter (mean length 1.58cm and mean tone 9.49mmHg) and ineffective esophageal motility (mean non-transmitted waves 92.91%, mean effective primary peristalsis 40.05%, and mean amplitude 13.11mmHg). The most frequent symptom was dysphagia.

CONCLUSIONS

Scleroderma is associated with lower esophageal sphincter alterations and symptomatic ineffective esophageal motility.