in gastrointestinal manifestation of systemic sclerosis.

Aim: To study the prevalence of in systemic sclerosis patients and its gastrointestinal manifestations in comparison with -negative systemic sclerosis patients. Systemic sclerosis gastrointestinal outcome post eradication was evaluated.

Method: In total, 70 systemic sclerosis patients and 70 age-, gender- and race-matched healthy controls had their urea breath test done. Gastrointestinal manifestations in systemic sclerosis were assessed using University of California at Los Angeles 2.0 and Leeds Dyspepsia Questionnaire questionnaires. Systemic sclerosis patients with confirmed infection were given standard eradication therapy. Urea breath test was repeated 6 weeks posteradication therapy with their gastrointestinal symptoms reassessed.

Results: The prevalence of was low in both systemic sclerosis patients (10%) and healthy controls (2.9%). There was no significant difference in gastrointestinal symptoms between -positive and -negative systemic sclerosis patients. However, the -positive patients reported higher median severity scores for the gastrointestinal symptoms of reflux (0.5 vs 0.35), abdominal distension (1.5 vs 0.75) and social functioning impairment score (0.5 vs 0.16) using the University of California at Los Angeles 2.0 score. The -positive patients also indicated increased upper abdominal pain (3.0 vs 0.0), regurgitation (2.0 vs 0.0) and burping (3.0 vs 0.0), observed from the Leeds Dyspepsia Questionnaire scores. Gastrointestinal outcomes post- eradication showed either an improvement or complete resolution of symptoms.

Conclusion: Gastrointestinal symptoms in systemic sclerosis patients are unlikely to be caused by pylori in the recent years in our cohort of patients. No significant difference in gastrointestinal symptoms was seen between -positive and -negative systemic sclerosis patients. can be readily tested by urea breath test to look for present infection.