Scleroderma and the Esophagus

Nitin K Ahuja; John O Clarke

doi:10.1016/j.gtc.2021.08.005

Scleroderma and the Esophagus

Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 2021 Dec;50(4):905-918. doi: 10.1016/j.gtc.2021.08.005.

Authors

Nitin K Ahuja¹, John O Clarke²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard 7 South Pavilion, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
² Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 430 Broadway Street, Pavilion C, 3rd Floor, C-343, Redwood City, CA 94063-6341, USA. Electronic address: john.clarke@stanford.edu.

PMID: 34717878
DOI: 10.1016/j.gtc.2021.08.005

Abstract

The gastrointestinal tract is the second largest organ system in the body and is often affected by connective tissue disorders. Scleroderma is the classic rheumatologic disease affecting the esophagus; more than 90% of patients with scleroderma have esophageal involvement. This article highlights esophageal manifestations of scleroderma, focusing on pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnostic considerations, and treatment options. In addition, this article briefly reviews the esophageal manifestations of other key connective tissue disorders, including mixed connective tissue disease, myositis, Sjogren syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, fibromyalgia, and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.

Keywords: Aperistalsis; Dysphagia; Ehler-Danlos; Fibromyalgia; Lupus; Myositis; Scleroderma; Sjogren.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Connective Tissue Diseases*
Esophagus
Humans
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic*
Mixed Connective Tissue Disease*
Sjogren's Syndrome* / complications
Sjogren's Syndrome* / diagnosis