Evaluation and management of esophageal manifestations in systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a multisystemic autoimmune connective tissue disorder; in the gastrointestinal tract, the esophagus is the most commonly affected organ. Symptoms of esophageal disease are due to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and esophageal motor dysfunction. Since the development of high-resolution manometry (HRM), this method has been preferred for the study of SSc patients with esophageal involvement. Using HRM, classic scleroderma esophagus, defined as absent or ineffective peristalsis of the distal esophagus in combination with a hypotensive lower esophageal sphincter, was found in as many as 55% of SSc patients. Endoscopy is the appropriate test for evaluating dysphagia and identifying evidence and possible complications of GERD. In the therapeutic area, treatment ranges from general supportive measures to the administration of drugs such as proton pump inhibitors and/or prokinetics. However, as many SSc patients do not respond to existing therapies, there is an urgent need for new therapeutic modalities. Buspirone, a 5-hydroxytryptamine 1A receptor agonist, could be a putative therapeutic option, as it was found to exert a significant beneficial effect in SSc patients with esophageal involvement. This review summarizes our knowledge concerning the evaluation and management of esophageal manifestations in SSc patients, including emerging therapeutic modalities.

Severe oesophageal disease and its associations with systemic sclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: Severe oesophageal disease in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), referred as scleroderma oesophagus, is characterised by ineffective or absent peristalsis along with hypotensive oesophagogastric junction (hEGJ). The associations between scleroderma oesophagus and different clinical and laboratory manifestations of SSc is still controversial. In this study we aimed to assess associations between scleroderma oesophagus, diagnosed by high resolution manometry (HRM), and other manifestations of disease. METHODS: Fifty-four consecutive SSc patients (49 women, mean age 50.6±11.6) with oesophageal symptoms underwent clinical interview, medical records review and HRM. HRMs were analysed according to the Chicago Classification in order to provide oesophageal motility diagnosis; EGJ <9 mmHg was considered hypotensive. Demographic characteristics, patient-reported symptoms, SSc subtypes, pulmonary fibrosis, cutaneous ulcers, and anti-Scl-70 positivity were compared between SSc patients with or without scleroderma oesophagus. Comparison was also performed in computed tomography (CT) findings of oesophageal lumen in 26 patients with available data. Oesophageal dilatation was deemed present when the diameter was >9 mm. RESULTS: Absent contractility was present in 37 (68.5%) patients; among these patients hEGJP was found in 32, thus 32/54 (59.2%) patients had classic scleroderma oesophagus. There were no associations with gender, age, oesophageal symptoms, skin involvement extent, anti-Scl-70, pulmonary fibrosis and cutaneous ulcers. Notably, oesophageal dilation on chest CT was more frequent in patients with scleroderma oesophagus compared to those without (77% vs. 7%, p=0.04, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Scleroderma oesophagus diagnosed by HRM was present in less than 2/3 of symptomatic patients with SSc and associated only with oesophageal dilation in CT. Although further studies are needed, oesophageal dilation on chest CT may be a non-invasive alternative for evaluation of SSc patients with oesophageal symptoms.

Proton pump inhibitor and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor therapy for the management of noncardiac chest pain.

INTRODUCTION: Although gastroesophageal reflux disease is the main cause of noncardiac chest pain (NCCP), proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) benefit a minority of patients. Our prospective study evaluated the effect of PPI and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on the different subtypes of NCCP characterized by impedance-pH monitoring. METHODS: All NCCP patients underwent impedance-pH monitoring and on the basis of the results, those with abnormal distal esophageal acid exposure received PPIs twice daily (group A), those with a positive symptom index for chest pain received citalopram 20 mg and PPI once daily (group B), and those with a negative symptom index for chest pain received citalopram 20 mg once daily (group C). Therapy was administered for 12 weeks and treatment success was defined as complete disappearance of chest pain. RESULTS: From March 2015 to March 2016, 63 patients were included (group A=9, group B=18, group C=36). After 12 weeks of therapy, complete resolution of chest pain was noted in 8/9 (88.9%) group A, 13/18 (72.2%) group B, and 24/36 (66.7%) group C patients. CONCLUSION: Combined impedance-pH monitoring identifies different subtypes of NCCP patients who can receive tailored management. Targeted therapy with PPIs and/or citalopram offers complete symptom relief in the great majority of them.

The 5-HT1A receptor agonist buspirone improves esophageal motor function and symptoms in systemic sclerosis: a 4-week, open-label trial.

BACKGROUND: Acute administration of the oral 5-HT1A receptor agonist buspirone, which is commonly used as an anxiolytic drug, may improve compromised lower esophageal sphincter function. In an open-label trial we assessed the effects of buspirone on esophageal motor function and symptoms in patients with esophageal involvement associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc). METHODS: Thirty consecutive patients with SSc and symptomatic esophageal involvement, despite treatment with proton pump inhibitors, underwent high resolution manometry and chest computed tomography for assessment of motor function and esophageal dilatation, respectively. Regurgitation, heartburn, dysphagia, and chest pain severity was subjectively scored by visual analog scales. Manometric parameters (primary endpoint) and symptom severity (secondary endpoint) were re-examined after 4-week daily administration of 20 mg buspirone. Other medications remained unchanged. RESULTS: Eight patients did not complete the trial because of buspirone-associated dizziness (n = 2), or nausea (n = 2), or reluctancy to undergo final manometry. In the remaining 22 patients lower esophageal sphincter (LES) resting pressure increased from 7.7 ± 3.9 to 12.2 ± 4.6 mmHg (p = 0.00002) after buspirone administration; other manometric parameters did not change. Statistical analysis revealed negative correlation between individual increases in resting LES pressure and supra-aortic esophageal diameter (r = -0.589, p = 0.017), suggesting a more beneficial effect in patients with less severely affected esophageal function. Heartburn and regurgitation scores decreased at 4 weeks compared to baseline (p = 0.001, and p = 0.022, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our findings warrant more conclusive evaluation with a double-blind controlled study; however, buspirone could potentially be given under observation for objective improvement in all patients with SSc who report reflux symptoms despite undergoing standard treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02363478 Registered: 21-02-2014.

Beneficial effect of the 5-HT1A receptor agonist buspirone on esophageal dysfunction associated with systemic sclerosis: A pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal involvement in systemic sclerosis (SSc) carries significant morbidity and is empirically managed with domperidone, albeit with questionable efficacy. The oral 5-HT1A receptor agonist buspirone may enhance esophageal peristalsis and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) function in healthy volunteers. AIM: We aimed to test the hypothesis that buspirone may exert a beneficial acute effect on esophageal motor dysfunction in symptomatic patients with SSc. METHODS: Twenty consecutive patients with SSc reporting esophageal symptoms underwent high-resolution manometry before and 30 minutes after administration of buspirone (10 mg). Ten other patients received domperidone (10 mg) and served as control group. Changes in LES resting and residual pressure, amplitude, duration, and velocity of distal esophageal body contractions were examined. RESULTS: Esophageal hypomotility and hypotensive LES was found in 63% and 67% of patients, respectively. Demographic and clinical characteristics, including baseline manometric parameters, were comparable between groups. Resting pressure of LES increased after buspirone from 9.42 ± 2.6 to 11.53 ± 3.4 mmHg (p = 0.0002 by paired t-test), but not after domperidone; a trend for increase of amplitude of contractions was also observed after buspirone (p = 0.09). Comparison of the individual changes revealed that buspirone was superior to domperidone in enhancing LES pressure ( + 2.11 ± 2.0 versus -0.45 ± 2.3 mmHg, p = 0.006). No significant effects of either drug were noted on other examined parameters of esophageal function. CONCLUSION: The beneficial acute effect of buspirone on impaired LES function associated with SSc suggests a role of 5-HT1A receptor-mediated interactions in these patients. Prospective studies to examine whether buspirone is of long-term therapeutic value for SSc-associated esophageal disease are warranted.