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
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Content: Learn more general information here about scleroderma and systemic sclerosis. Systemic sclerosis causes all-over inflammation and thickening and tightening of connective tissue, which can cause scarring and damage in different areas of the body, including the lungs, heart, kidneys, and the gastrointestinal tract, where it can lead to very obvious symptoms like acid reflux and pain and difficulty swallowing. Gastrointestinal (GI) involvement in scleroderma and systemic sclerosis is very common; it is thought to affect some 90 percent of patients, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. GI symptoms are much more common in people with systemic disease compared with localized disease. The esophagus — the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach, carrying food and liquids to be digested — is the most commonly affected part of the GI tract in systemic sclerosis. This is sometimes referred to as esophageal scleroderma. Here, learn more about what causes esophageal scleroderma, symptoms to watch for, and how it is treated and managed. How Scleroderma Affects the Esophagus
The same scarring and thickening that causes outward skin changes can also affect smooth muscle tissue in organs throughout the body. In the GI tract, scleroderma can affect the smooth muscle of the esophagus, damaging healthy tissue and replacing it with scar tissue.