Gastrointestinal symptoms and motility disorders in patients with systemic scleroderma

BMC Gastroenterology

Table 2 Gastrointestinal motility indices in scleroderma (SSc) patients and in dyspeptic and healthy controls

	SSc patients	Dyspeptic controls	Healthy controls	P (ANOVA)
*Stomach*
Fasting antral area (cm²)	2.9 ± 0.1¹	3.4 ± 0.1²	3.5 ± 0.1	0.004
Maximal postprandial area (cm²)	10.7 ± 0.3¹	11.8 ± 0.2²	12.3 ± 0.2	0.0002
Minimal postprandial area (%)	8.3 ± 2.0¹	15.6 ± 1.5^1,2	2.0 ± 1.8	0.000001
Half-emptying time (minute)	42 ± 4¹	47 ± 3¹	26 ± 3	0.000001
Abnormal emptying (%)	50¹	57¹	3	0.0001
*Gallbladder*
Fasting volume (mL)	25.2 ± 1.5	24.8 ± 1.0	22.0 ± 1.1	NS
Postprandial residual volume (%)	26.8 ± 2.5	28.0 ± 1.5	26.5 ± 1.5	NS
Postprandial residual volume (mL)	6.6 ± 0.9	7.0 ± 0.6	5.9 ± 0.6	NS
Half-emptying time (minute)	25.1 ± 2.3	25.4 ± 1.2	22.1 ± 1.3	NS
Abnormal emptying (%)	0	0	0	NS
*Small bowel*
Orocecal transit time* (minute)	172.3 ± 7.4¹	158.0 ± 5.5¹	98.7 ± 5.5	0.000001
Abnormal transit (%)	74¹	66¹	11	0.0001

Results are expressed as means ± SE. Differences among groups were tested by Fisher's LSD Multiple Comparison test. The chi-square test was used to compare proportions. NS = no significant difference; ¹P < 0.05 vs controls; ²P < 0.05 vs SSc. *not done in 3 SSc patients and in 3 dyspeptic patients.

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