High prevalence of esophageal motility disorders in patients with rheumatologic diseases.

This article focuses on the prevalence and characteristics of esophageal motility disorders in patients with rheumatic diseases, assessed via high-resolution esophageal manometry (HREM) using the Chicago Classification version 3.0 (CCv3.0). In a retrospective study of 289 adults with various rheumatologic conditions—including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and others—58% exhibited esophageal motility disorders such as achalasia, esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction (EGJOO), and ineffective esophageal motility (IEM). Notably, achalasia and EGJOO were more common in RA patients, while esophageal hypocontractility was more frequent in those with scleroderma. The study also found that half of the patients with normal barium swallow studies had motility disorders on HREM, suggesting that manometry should be considered in symptomatic patients with rheumatic diseases regardless of barium esophagram results.