Enterocyte‐labelling Index in the Duodenal Mucosa of Patients With Progressive Systemic Sclerosis (Pss)

Abstract

Ten patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS), 4 patients with other gastro‐intestinal diseases and 5 normal controls, underwent small intestinal biopsy procedure. The biopsy material was incubated with tritiated thymidine and processed for auto‐radiography. The labelling index (LI) in the small intestinal mucosa was estimated. The LI in PSS patients with duodenal involvement was significantly higher than the LI in PSS patients without duodenal involvement. In the latter group, the LI was at the same level as in normal controls. The LI in patients with other gastro‐intestinal diseases, with diarrhoea as a main symptom, was not significantly different from the LI found in duodenal PSS.

Collagen components in the duodenal and rectal mucosa in progressive systemic sclerosis and other diseases

“…The esophagus is involved in about 70% of all PSS cases, the small and !arge intestine in about 40% and 100%, respectively (1). In a previous study we demonstrated the esophageal mucosa from PSS patients with esopha geal involvement to contain a higher concentration of collagen than esophageal mucosa from PSS patients without involvement (2). In the present study, we determined the concentrations of amino acids characteristic of collagen in the duodenal and rectal mucosa of PSS patients and of patients with various other diseases.…”

“…In the present study, we determined the concentrations of amino acids characteristic of collagen in the duodenal and rectal mucosa of PSS patients and of patients with various other diseases. The aim of the study was to investigate whether changes in collagen concentration in the surface layers of the gastroin testinal tract is a characteristic feature in PSS (2,3).…”

Histopathological Change of Esophagus Related to Dysphagia in Mixed Connective Tissue Disease

“…The frequency of esophageal dysmotility is 46-92%, 30-88%, 21-72%, and 50% in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE), and polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM), respectively [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. While the cause of esophageal dysfunction in patients with CTDs has been unclear, there are some reports that suggest the accumulation of extracellular matrix, neuropathy, and autoantibody as the cause of esophageal dysfunction in patients with SSc [9][10][11]. On the other hand, there are few reports relating to the cause of esophageal dysfunction in MCTD patients, despite its frequency.…”