Title: CREST Syndrome Clinical Presentation: History, Physical Examination, Complications
Headings: CREST Syndrome Clinical Presentation
CREST Syndrome Clinical Presentation
History
Calcinosis
Raynaud phenomenon
Esophageal dysmotility
Sclerodactyly
Telangiectases
Other manifestations

Content: According to Akesson and Wollheim from 1989, [ 44] dysmotility is common. Cine-esophagram and radionuclide transit time studies demonstrate hypomotility in as many as 75-86% of patients with CREST syndrome. All patients have normal motility of the proximal esophagus, which primarily is striated muscle. In 1987, Zamost et al [ 45] correlated esophageal symptoms with anatomic and physiologic measurements in 53 patients with scleroderma. The prevalence of esophagitis and strictures (41%) in this patient population is higher than in otherwise healthy patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Abnormal motility was a significant predictor of erosive esophagitis; 70% of patients with dysmotility had gross or microscopic evidence of erosive esophagitis. No patients with normal motility had erosive esophagitis. Symptoms of heartburn and dysphagia were more common in patients with erosive esophagitis. Heartburn alone did not predict esophagitis;