Nutrition in systemic sclerosis

Esophageal Dysfunction in Systemic Sclerosis: An Update

Esophageal motility disorders are prevalent in 90% of patients with systemic sclerosis [scleroderma (SSc)], with an increased mortality rate in patients with severe esophageal involvement. Esophageal smooth muscle damage caused by ischemia, nerve damage, and inflammatory factors may be responsible for discomfort and various complications in these patients. The clinical manifestations are diverse. Most hospitals still use traditional esophageal manometry and 24-h pH monitoring to diagnose esophageal function in patients with SSc. The aim of this review article is to provide an overview of SSc-related esophageal motility disorders and related research progress, including the pathogenesis and clinical features of these disorders and the progress made in endoscopic diagnosis. We also discuss the possible pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets.

Diet in Scleroderma: Is There a Need for Intervention?

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients exhibit a plethora of risk factors for nutritional decline, including the presence of chronic inflammation and the progressive nature of disease-related multisystem involvement. The prevalence and consequences of nutritional decline in scleroderma are frequently underestimated, its management currently remaining a subject of debate. The main objective of the present study was to perform a detailed assessment of scleroderma patients' diet as well as their eating habits and to describe the relationships with weight loss and malnutrition risk in the absence of professional nutritional counseling.

METHODS

We used a translated and validated version of the EPIC-Norfolk FFQ (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition Norfolk Food Frequency Questionnaire) to evaluate the patients' diet and MUST (Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool) to investigate the risk of malnutrition. Disease activity was estimated using the EUSTAR-AI (European Scleroderma Trials and Research group Activity Index).

RESULTS

We included 69 patients with SSc, of which 42 underwent a detailed dietary assessment. Dietary factors were connected to body composition and digestive symptoms. We found high sodium intake and frequent suboptimal energy consumption in our study group, including patients with cardiopulmonary involvement. Liver transaminases were inversely correlated with the consumption of nuts and seeds. Malnutrition and weight loss were significantly associated with pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, albumin levels, and the extent of skin fibrosis, but not advanced age. Although the patients with EUSTAR-AI ≥ 2.5 were more frequently included in the moderate and high malnutrition risk categories, these results did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSIONS

Currently, there is an unmet need for longitudinal and interventional research focusing on the long-term significance, ramifications, and management of nutritional impairment in SSc patients with various clinical manifestations. Our results indicate that scleroderma patients could benefit from personalized nutritional counseling in an interdisciplinary setting.

Management of gastrointestinal involvement in scleroderma

Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) commonly affects patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). The GI involvement is quite heterogeneous varying from asymptomatic disease to significant dysmotility causing complications like malabsorption, weight loss and severe malnutrition. This review focuses on the management of GI involvement in SSc and has been categorized based on the segment of GIT involved. A brief discussion on the role of patient reported outcome measures in SSc-GI involvement has also been incorporated.

Measuring response in the gastrointestinal tract in systemic sclerosis

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) involvement in systemic sclerosis (scleroderma, SSc) is the most common internal complication. This review discusses the outcome measures to capture GIT involvement in clinical care and trials.

RECENT FINDINGS

Patient-reported outcome measures have been validated (UCLA Scleroderma Clinical Trial Consortium GIT 2.0 and NIH PROMIS scales) in SSc-GIT. Multiple objective measures are available to assess mucosal involvement and motility in GIT. However, these need to be validated in SSc for trials.

SUMMARY

GIT is a common cause of morbidity and has negative impact on quality of life in SSc. Recommendations are given for trial design and evaluation of GIT involvement in SSc.