Admission demographics, presenting symptoms, therapeutics, and outcomes. SSc disease characteristics are based on the Medsger severity scale classification12.
| Demographics | Patients, n = 37 (%) |
|---|---|
| Sex | 7 males (11) |
| Age | 59.6 ± 11.7 |
| Race | 14 AA, 23 W |
| Disease characteristics | Cases, n = 64 (%) |
| Raynaud phenomenon | 40 (63) |
| Digital ulcers | 15 (23) |
| Interstitial lung disease | 17 (27) |
| Pulmonary arterial hypertension | 26 (41) |
| Esophageal involvement | 46 (72) |
| Gastric involvement | 20 (31) |
| Bacterial overgrowth | 10 (16) |
| Cardiac involvement | 10 (16) |
| MSK involvement | 12 (19) |
| Renal involvement | 1 (2) |
| Opioid use (on admission) | 11 (17) |
| Promotility agent (on admission) | 31 (48) |
| Symptoms | |
| Diarrhea | 9 (14) |
| Abdominal pain | 32 (50) |
| Nausea | 49 (77) |
| Weight loss | 11 (17) |
| Hematochezia | 2 (3) |
| Melena | 2 (3) |
| Fever | 4 (6) |
| Other | Constipation (13 pts), abdominal distention (7 pts), decreased PO intake (5 pts) |
| Treatment modality | |
| NPO | 46 (72) |
| Surgery | 6 (9) |
| Nasogastric tube** | 23/29 (36/45) |
| Prokinetic | 31 (48) |
| Antibiotics | 20 (31) |
| Intravenous fluids | 41 (64) |
| Total parenteral nutrition | 26 (41) |
| Outcome | |
| Spontaneous resolution | 45 (70) |
| Prolonged TPN | 16 (25) |
| Death | 6 (16) |
| Days hospitalized | 12 ± 12.5 |
↵** 23 cases with nasogastric tube, 6 additional cases with gastro-jejunal tube. SSc: systemic sclerosis; AA: African American; W: white; MSK: musculoskeletal; PO: per os; NPO: nil per os; TPN: total parenteral nutrition.