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Anorectal function in systemic sclerosis

Correlation with esophageal dysfunction?

  • Original Contributions
  • Published:
Diseases of the Colon & Rectum

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was designed to compare esophageal and anorectal function parameters in patients with systemic sclerosis and to define the role of anorectal manometry in the diagnosis of gastrointestinal involvement of systemic sclerosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-six consecutive patients (22 females) with systemic sclerosis originally referred for assessment of esophageal function were evaluated by esophageal and anorectal manometry. Anorectal function parameters were compared between patients with normal and those with disturbed esophageal function. RESULTS: A total of 17 of 26 patients (65 percent) had severe esophageal dysfunction with aperistalsis of the lower two-thirds of the esophagus, whereas 9 patients (35 percent) had normal esophageal manometry. Only three patients (11.5 percent) suffered from occasional fecal incontinence. Anorectal function parameters (resting pressure, maximum squeeze pressure, perception threshold) were not significantly different between patients with normal and those with disturbed esophageal motility. Rectoanal inhibitory reflex was excitable in nearly 90 percent of patients. CONCLUSION: In an unselected group of patients with systemic sclerosis, fecal incontinence and abnormal anorectal function are rather rare findings. Anorectal manometry cannot differentiate between patients with and without gastrointestinal involvement of systemic sclerosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Regensburg, D-93042, Regensburg, Germany

    Guntram Lock M.D., Martin Zeuner M.D., Bernhard Lang (Prof. of Medicine), Jürgen Schölmerich (Prof. of Medicine) & Axel Holstege (Prof. of Medicine)

  2. Department of Dermatology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany

    Rüdiger Hein M.D.

Authors
  1. Guntram Lock M.D.
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  2. Martin Zeuner M.D.
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  3. Bernhard Lang
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  4. Rüdiger Hein M.D.
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  5. Jürgen Schölmerich
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  6. Axel Holstege
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Additional information

Abstract published in Gastroenterology 1995;108:A639.

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Lock, G., Zeuner, M., Lang, B. et al. Anorectal function in systemic sclerosis. Dis Colon Rectum 40, 1328–1335 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02050818

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02050818

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