| [ Summary ] |
In this paper, we described the gastrointestinal manifestations of patients with progressive systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE), polyarteritis nodosa (PN), polymyositis, dermatomyositis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). All parts of the GI tract may be involved in these diseases. The manifestations induced by these diseases are classified as follows according to pathogenesis : (1) dismortility of the gastrointestinal tract due to smooth muscle atrophy. (2) ischemia, ulcers and perforations of the bowel due to intestinal vasculitis. The former is frequently seen in patients with PSS, and the latter is seen in patients with SLE and PN. Moreover, NSAIDs used to treat RA commonly cause gastrointestinal problems, and secondary amyloidosis induced by RA, which may affect the gastrointestinal tract. |