Colonic transit disorders in systemic sclerosis

Systemic sclerosis (SS) alters smooth muscle function throughout the gastro intestinal tract, the oesophagus being the segment most often involved. Inv olvement of the colon, though less common, may lead to life-threatening com plications. We studied 23 unselected patients with SS and 20 age-matched he althy controls using radionuclide colon transit studies. The geometric cent re (GC) at 4 and 24 hours was used to summarise overall transit in the colo n. In patients with SS, colon transit was delayed (GC(4): 0.39 +/- 0.36 vs 0.85 +/- 0.45; P=0.001) (GC(24): 1.68 +/- 0.9 vs 2.58 +/- 1.08; P=0.006). T hese findings suggest that delayed colon transit is common in patients with SS.