Systemic sclerosis & Raynaud's
Delayed gastric emptying identifies a high-risk clinical subgroup in patients with systemic sclerosis
Authors' conclusion
In SSc, we have confirmed that gastric dysmotility is associated with a distinct clinical and serological phenotype and that it independently predicts serious adverse outcomes.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with SSc (mean age 48 ± 12 years; 81% female)
- Participants
- 94 patients
- Exposure
- Gastric dysmotility vs no gastric dysmotility
- Gastric dysmotilityn = 33
- Outcome
- Prevalence of gastric dysmotility (≥20% gastric retention at 4-h) and its association with SSc-related death and/or lung transplantation
Methodological detailsstandardized 4-h solid gastric emptying scintigraphy, Cox regression
- Standardized 4-h solid gastric emptying scintigraphy
- Cox regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Gastric dysmotility prevalence; composite SSc-related death and/or lung transplantation
Gastric dysmotility vs Without gastric dysmotilityEstimate (95% CI)P value
Unadjusted Cox regression
HR (unadjusted) 6.47(2.09–20.10)
P = 0.001Adjusted for confounders
HR (adjusted) 4.23(1.25–14.33)
P = 0.020Patients
- Gastric dysmotility prevalence
- 33 (35%)
- Composite SSc-related death and/or lung transplantation, whole cohort
- 16 (17.0%)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
ILD
P = 0.033
Absent oesophageal contractility
P < 0.001
ACAs (gastric dysmotility less frequent with ACAs)
- ACAs
- 27.3% vs 55.0%, P = 0.009
Anti-U1RNP antibodies (gastric dysmotility more common)
- Anti-U1RNP antibodies
- 15.6% vs 1.7%, P = 0.011
Original publication
Delayed gastric emptying identifies a high-risk clinical subgroup in patients with systemic sclerosis. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 6 February 2026. doi:10.
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