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: 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; half the patients without this complication still experienced heartburn. Additionally, dysphagia did not predict the presence of stricture. Barrett esophagitis, a complication of gastroesophageal reflux, has been found in scleroderma patients, perhaps at a higher rate (37% in patients with scleroderma vs 4-13% in patients without scleroderma). Esophageal adenocarcinoma, a malignant transformation of Barrett esophagitis, has also been documented in scleroderma patients. Another potential complication of esophageal dysmotility and gastroesophageal reflux is occult aspiration and pulmonary disease.