Scleroderma & Esophagitis

Scleroderma is a systemic vascular disease that affects multiple organ systems. The esophagus is the most commonly effected part of the GI system. 80% of scleroderma patients having esophageal symptoms. Issues including dysmotility and loss of lower esophageal sphincter tone develop following progressive fibrosis and atrophy of the muscularis propria. These changes result in severe reflux esophagitis, strictures, dysphagia, bacterial overgrowth, small bowel dysmotility and pseudoobstruction.

• Below are EGD images from a patient with scleroderma who reported severe dysphagia.