Treatment of Scleroderma with Gastrointestinal Involvement

Introduction to Scleroderma Treatment

• For scleroderma patients with GI symptoms, treat gastroesophageal reflux aggressively with proton pump inhibitors as first-line therapy, use prokinetic agents for motility disorders, and address small intestinal bacterial overgrowth with rotating antibiotics, while monitoring closely for malnutrition that may require enteral or parenteral nutrition, as recommended by Praxis Medical Insights 1

Malnutrition Management

• Malnutrition is the leading cause of mortality attributed to GI involvement in scleroderma, according to Nature Reviews Rheumatology 2
• Monitor for signs of mechanical or pseudo-obstruction, which can be life-threatening in the context of multi-organ involvement, as noted by Nature Reviews Rheumatology 2