[Digestive symptoms of scleroderma (author's transl)]

Abstract

The authors successively study the oral, peri-oral, esophageal, intestinal and anal manifestations of systemic scleroderma. They point out that dental, salivary, and esophageal involvement is of great interest for diagnosis and prognosis. They particularly describe the malabsorption syndrome including anatomical and ultrastructural lesions of the smooth muscle fibers. They present an original study of arrector pili in clinically and histologically non-involved skin of patients undergoing scleroderma. Finally they state that any suspected or diagnosed scleroderma needs a digestive check-up as follows: radiologic examination of the teeth, biopsy of the minor salivary glands of the lower lip, radiologic study of esophageal motility and radioactive C 14 glycocholate test.