FRI0310 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES SCLERODERMA CLINICAL TRIALS CONSORTIUM GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT 2.0 REFLUX-SCALE ASSOCIATES WITH IMPAIRED ESOPHAGEAL SCINTIGRAPHY FINDINGS IN SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS
Authors: Giuseppina Abignano, Gianna A. Mennillo, Antonio Carriero, Carmela Esposito, Angela Padula, Dinesh Khanna, Salvatore D’angelo
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2019)

<h3>Background</h3> The University of California Los Angeles Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium gastrointestinal tract 2.0 (UCLA SCTC_GIT 2.0) questionnaire is a self-reported tool including 7-multi-item scales and measuring GI quality of life both in clinical trials and day-to-day clinic care of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients (1). Scarce data are available on the correlation between patient reported GI symptoms and motility dysfunction as assessed by esophageal scintigraphy. <h3>Objectives</h3> To evaluate the UCLA SCTC_GIT 2.0 score in SSc patients undergoing esophageal scintigraphy and correlate their findings. <h3>Methods</h3> Data of SSc patients admitted to our clinic, undergoing esophageal scintigraphy, were reviewed. The score of UCLA SCTC_GIT 2.0, usually administered to all attending SSc patients, was calculated. Data were expressed as percentage (%) and mean ± standard error. Pearson's test was used for Prism 7 correlation analysis. P &lt; 0.05 was considered significant. <h3>Results</h3> Of all the SSc patients admitted to our clinic from 1<sup>st</sup>Sept 2017 to 31<sup>st</sup> December 2018, twenty underwent esophageal scintigraphy. Seventeen were female, 4 with diffuse subset, mean age was 51 (± 3.4) years, disease duration of 6.8 (± 1.2 years) years. Twelve (60%) patients reported esophageal (reflux, dysphagia) symptoms, 5 (25%) stomach (early satiety, vomiting) and 9 (45%) intestinal (bloating, diarrhea, constipation) symptoms while 3 (15%) reported no symptoms. Mean ± SE scores of UCLA SCTC_GIT 2.0 items were: reflux 0.8 ± 0.2, distention 0.9 ± 0.2, fecal soiling 0.5 ± 0.2, diarrhea 0.5 ± 1, social 0.5 ± 0.1, emotional 0.5 ± 0.2, constipation 0.5 ± 0.1, and total UCLA SCTC_GIT 2.0 0.6 ± 0.1. Nine (45%) patients had no-mild, 4 (20%) moderate and 7 (35%) severe to very-severe reflux score. Esophageal scintigraphy showed hypomotility in 16 (80%) patients who had a higher UCLA SCTC_GIT 2.0 reflux score compared with the remaining 20% patients (1 ± 0.2 vs 0.3 ± 0.2). Fifteen/20 (75%) had an abnormal (&lt;90% within 10 sec) esophageal emptying activity. Percentage of esophageal emptying activity negatively correlated with reflux score (r = - 0.52, p = 0.02) while it did not correlate with the other items scales and the total UCLA SCTC_GIT 2.0 score (p &gt; 0.05). <h3>Conclusion</h3> SSc patients with impaired esophageal scintigraphy findings have a higher GIT2 reflux score. The lack of correlation with UCLA SCTC_GIT 2.0 total score may be related to the composite nature of the score capturing overall GI disease aspects. The UCLA SCTC_GIT 2.0 is a complementary tool for objective measurement of esophageal involvement which can be easily administered in day-to-day clinical assessment. A larger number of SSc patients is needed to confirm these preliminary findings. <h3>Reference</h3> [1] Khanna D, Hays RD, Maranian P, et al. Reliability and validity of the University of California, Los Angeles Scleroderma Clinical Trial Consortium Gastrointestinal Tract Instrument. Arthritis Rheum2009;61:1257-63. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> Giuseppina Abignano: None declared, Gianna A. Mennillo: None declared, Antonio Carriero: None declared, Carmela Esposito: None declared, Angela Padula: None declared, Dinesh Khanna Shareholder of: Eicos Sciences, Inc, Grant/research support from: Bayer, BMS, Pfizer, Horizon, Consultant for: Actelion Acceleron, Arena, Bayer, BI, BMS, CSL Behring, Corbus, Cytori, GSK, Genentech/Roche, Galapagos, Employee of: Elcos Sciences, Inc, Salvatore D'Angelo: None declared