Medical expert of the article
New publications
Esophageal scleroderma
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Esophageal scleroderma is one of the manifestations of systemic scleroderma, a progressive disease characterized by changes in connective tissue with the development of sclerosis and obliterating damage to arterioles. Systemic scleroderma is classified as a diffuse connective tissue disease.
[ Causes of esophageal scleroderma
Genetic and infectious factors may be important in the etiology. The disease is provoked by cold, trauma, foci of chronic infections, drug intolerance, endocrine changes (for example, after childbirth, during menopause).
Pathologically, esophageal scleroderma is manifested by atrophy and sclerosis of the mucous membrane, as well as the appearance of ulcers.
The pathogenesis of the disease is complex and poorly understood. Great importance is attached to changes in calcium and connective tissue metabolism, immune and endocrine (hyperparathyroidism) disorders and damage to the microcirculatory bed.
Symptoms of esophageal scleroderma
Women aged 20-50 years are more often affected. The disease usually develops gradually: vasomotor disorders similar to Raynaud's disease appear (symmetrical paroxysmal circulatory disorders in the feet and hands with signs of secondary gangrene; occasionally similar vasomotor disorders are observed in the area of the nose, auricle, chin; with the help of capillaroscopy, narrowed capillaries and strongly curved capillary loops are found long before the manifestation of the disease; mainly women are affected), arthralgia, dense swelling of the skin, and later the internal organs are affected. Around the same period, damage to the gastrointestinal tract, mainly the esophagus, occurs, occurring in half of the cases and manifested by swallowing disorders and heartburn.
What do need to examine?
Who to contact?
Treatment of esophageal scleroderma
Treatment of esophageal scleroderma is long-term, for years, mainly on an outpatient basis. The following medications are used: D-penicillamine, corticosteroids, aminoquinoline derivatives (delagyl, etc.), vasodilators, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and drugs that improve microcirculation. Dimethyl sulfoxide and hyaluronidase are used locally.
Prevention of exacerbations of systemic scleroderma consists of reasonable hardening of the body, elimination of provoking factors, systematic monitoring of patients for maintenance therapy.
More information of the treatment
Prognosis of esophageal scleroderma
The prognosis for acute and subacute cases is often unfavorable, while for chronic cases it improves depending on the quality and regularity of treatment and prevention of exacerbations.