Upper gastrointestinal disease in rheumatoid arthritis - Arthritis & Gastrointestinal Diagnosis & Tests

Upper gastrointestinal disease in rheumatoid arthritis

Journal Digestive Diseases and Sciences
Publisher Springer Netherlands
ISSN 0163-2116 (Print) 1573-2568 (Online)
Issue Volume 19, Number 5 / May, 1974
Category Original Articles
DOI 10.1007/BF01255603
Pages 405-410
Subject Collection Medicine
SpringerLink Date Wednesday, March 30, 2005

David C. H. Sun1, 2, 3 , Sanford H. Roth1, 2, 3, Charles S. Mitchell1, 2, 3 and DeWitt W. Englund1, 2, 3

(1) Veterans Administration Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona
(2) Institute of Gastroenterology, Good Samaritan Hospital, 1033 East McDowell Road, 85036 Phoenix, Arizona
(3) the Phoenix Foundation for Rheumatic Disease, Phoenix, Arizona

Abstract Upper gastrointestinal series were done in 140 consecutive patients with rheumatoid arthritis, irrespective of the presence or absence of symptoms suggesting upper gastrointestinal disease. In addition, intraluminal pH and manometric studies of the esophagus and esophagoscopy were done in 66 of these 140 patients. Gastric ulcers were found in 12 patients, and duodenal ulcers in 27, an incidence of peptic ulcer disease of 27.8%. The higher incidence of ulcer disease was found in patients on corticoid and in combination with indomethacin or phenylbutazone. No ulcer occurred in patients receiving gold therapy. Of the 66 patients who had esophageal motility study, a significantly lower mean amplitude of peristaltic contractions was noted in the lower two-thirds of the esophagus. The resting pressure in the inferior esophageal sphincter was also significantly lower than in the control group. However, no correlation was found between these two parameters and the duration or ARA stages of rheumatoid arthritis. It is impossible to determine whether the upper gastrointestinal dysfunction observed in these patients is another systemic manifestation of the rheumatoid disease or due to drugs.

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