Prevalence and associated factors of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth among systemic sclerosis patients.

Background: Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) results in nutrient malabsorption and malnutrition, thereby increasing the morbidity and mortality in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients.

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence and associated factors of SIBO in SSc patients.

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted between July 2015 and January 2016 in SSc patients over 18, using the glucose H /CH breath test to evaluate SIBO.