Title: How Scleroderma Affects the Esophagus: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment
Headings: How Does Scleroderma Affect the Esophagus? The Red Flags to Be Aware Of
How Does Scleroderma Affect the Esophagus? The Red Flags to Be Aware Of
Some 90 percent of patients with systemic sclerosis have gastrointestinal symptoms, and the esophagus is predominantly affected.
How Scleroderma Affects the Esophagus
Symptoms of Scleroderma in the Esophagus
How Esophageal Scleroderma Is Diagnosed
Upper endoscopy
Esophageal manometry
Barium esophagram
Esophageal pH testing
Complications and Risks from Scleroderma in the Esophagus
Barrett’s Esophagus
Aspiration and Lung Issues
Esophageal Strictures
Treating Scleroderma in the Esophagus
Lifestyle Changes
Medication for Reflux
Medication for Slow Digestion
Surgery and Procedures for Esophageal Scleroderma
Get Involved in Scleroderma Research
Keep Reading
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Content: Acid from the stomach, which is used in digestion, can injure the lining of the lower portion of the esophagus, causing further scarring and narrowing of the tube. Other symptoms may include: Difficulty swallowing
Pain when swallowing
Feeling like food is stuck in your esophagus
Heartburn
Regurgitation
Choking on food
Chest pain
Hoarseness or lost voice
About half of patients with scleroderma have GERD or dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), says Dr. Spiera. “People will say it feels like something is caught in their throat,” says Kenneth Beer, MD, a dermatologist in West Palm Beach, Florida, who is affiliated with Good Samaritan Medical Center in West Palm Beach. When scleroderma affects other parts of the GI tract, such as the small intestine, large intestine, or the anal sphincter, it can cause additional symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, bloating and gassiness, fecal incontinence, and gastroparesis, which is when it takes food a long time to leave the GI tract during digestion. Gastroparesis symptoms including feeling full quickly, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. How Esophageal Scleroderma Is Diagnosed
Doctors can run different tests doctors to assess how scleroderma is affecting the esophagus and gastrointestinal tract. Generally, doctors perform these tests only in patients who are complaining of GI-related symptoms, like heartburn or difficulty swallowing. Upper endoscopy
This procedure uses a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera on the end. It’s inserted through the mouth to look at the upper digestive system.