The Digestive System and Scleroderma
How does scleroderma affect the digestive system?
More than 90% of those living with scleroderma experience some form of GI issues. Severe gastrointestinal scleroderma complications are serious and affect only about 10% of people with scleroderma. Fortunately, most scleroderma related GI symptoms can be managed with help from your healthcare team.
Here is an overview of some of the GI complications someone with scleroderma might face:
- Acid Reflux or GERD. It is also called acid reflux disease, acid indigestion, or heartburn. It occurs when stomach acids back up into the esophagus and cause irritation.
- Esophageal dysmotility resulting from chronic exposure to acid and scar tissue, which can cause trouble swallowing food.
- Xerostomia, which is dry mouth.
- Dysphagia, which is trouble swallowing from calcinosis or other reasons.
- GAVE, also known as watermelon stomach, which can cause bleeding from the stomach.
- Dysmotility, or decreased movement of the GI tract, which can happen in any part of the gut, including the small bowel and colon.
Problems with the esophagus that result in swallowing difficulties and heartburn are the most common risks among people with scleroderma. All of these can have a major impact on the quality of life for people living with scleroderma.
Scleroderma Gastrointestinal Symptoms
Other GI symptoms scleroderma patients may have include:
- Stomach Pain
- Difficulty swallowing and acid reflux
- Nausea
- Heartburn or indigestion
- Changes in appetite
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Bloating
- Fecal incontinence
Why is it important to evaluate and manage GI involvement in scleroderma?
GI dysfunction can impact the whole disease course of a person living with scleroderma. Its impact is more obviously notable in how it affects sleep, fatigue levels, and overall quality of life.
In addition, people living with scleroderma may have GI tract involvement that is asymptomatic but still causes damage internally. Or, the GI involvement may affect other systems, such as the lungs (when a person inhales stomach acid) or weight loss (when damaged intestines inhibit absorption of nutrients).
In other cases, it’s important to distinguish between GI symptoms that are specific to scleroderma versus that result from things that affect the general population, such as medication side effects or changes in diet. For example, medications like calcium channel blockers for other scleroderma symptoms can aggravate and exacerbate symptoms of acid reflux. This helps determine which therapies to use to appropriately target GI issues.
The GI system is complex. Treating GI symptoms is important, but diagnosis and scleroderma-related gastrointestinal treatment will differ according to the location of the symptom or problem. Early recognition of gastrointestinal scleroderma is key to symptomatic control and complications prevention.
Diving into the Many Types of GI Complications and Symptoms
GI complications and symptoms in systemic sclerosis are diverse. Their manifestations can be split up into three main categories:
SRF Webinars: Scleroderma and Nutrition
Learn more about living with scleroderma and how healthy nutrition can help you feel your best and improve your quality of life.
