Evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract in juvenile systemic sclerosis: the paediatric gastroenterologist perspective
Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology, cilt.44, sa.8, ss.1670-1679, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Derleme
- Cilt numarası: 44 Sayı: 8
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Dergi Adı: Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, EMBASE, MEDLINE
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1670-1679
- Anahtar Kelimeler: child, diagnostic techniques and procedures, gastrointestinal diseases, gastrointestinal motility disorders, intestinal diseases, malnutrition, oesophageal diseases, scleroderma, systemic sclerosis
- İstanbul Üniversitesi-Cerrahpaşa Adresli: Hayır
Özet
The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is one of the most affected organs in systemic sclerosis (SSc), described in 42-78% of children with juvenile-onset SSc (jSSc). GI disease negatively impacts quality of life and increases disease-specific morbidity and mortality. Immune-mediated vascular, mucosal and neuromuscular compromise of the GI tract results in heterogeneous disease and variable clinical symptoms, severity, and disease progression. The burden of GI disease has a significant impact on clinical outcomes, and yet diagnosis and monitoring of GI disease remain challenging. The problem is multifactorial and includes symptoms that are non-specific and often overlooked, poor correlation between GI symptoms and testing, and limitations of GI-specific diagnostic testing. This review describes the clinical presentation and diagnostic work-up of upper and lower GI disease in jSSc via three distinct clinical scenarios, each encompassing a different segment of the GI tract (oropharynx/oesophagus, stomach/small bowel, colon/anorectum). Specifically, it highlights that the assessment of GI disease in jSSc warrants a high level of suspicion, timely evaluation, proper diagnostic testing, and most notably multidisciplinary collaboration.