Proximal stomach function in systemic sclerosis - Relationship with autonomic nerve function

Gastrointestinal involvement is frequent in patients with systemic sclerosi s (SSc); however, studies on the proximal stomach and its regulation are la cking. It has been hypothesized that the primary event in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal involvement in SSc is an early neural lesion. This stud y investigates proximal stomach function and its relation to autonomic nerv e function in SSc, Twenty SSc patients classified in to clinical subsets, u nderwent measurement of proximal stomach function with and without glucagon by electronic barostat and an assessment of autonomic nerve function. SSc patients were not significantly different from 11 controls for gastric comp liance (59.5 +/- 5.0 vs 47.7 +/- 4.2 ml/mm Hg. P = 0.1). The pressure-volum e curves in each participant with and without glucagon were significantly d ifferent (P ( 0.001). A significant positive association was found between gastric compliance and autonomic nerve function (P < 0.05). The change in g astric compliance during glucagon administration was significant associated with autonomic function (P ( 0.05). The perception cumulative scores did n ot differ between SSc patients and control subjects (P = 0.2). In conclusio n, proximal stomach function is associated with autonomic nerve function in SSc patients. This confirms the frequent association of motility disorders with autonomic dysfunction in SSc.