UCLA Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium Gastrointestinal Tract 2.0 Reflux Scale correlates with impaired Esophageal Scintigraphy findings in Systemic Sclerosis

Objective The University of California Los Angeles Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium gastrointestinal tract 2.0 (UCLA GIT 2.0) questionnaire is a self-reported tool measuring gastrointestinal (GI) quality of life in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients. Scarce data are available on the correlation between patient reported GI symptoms and motility dysfunction as assessed by esophageal transit scintigraphy. Methods We evaluated the UCLA GIT 2.0 reflux scale in SSc patients admitted to our clinic and undergoing esophageal transit scintigraphy, and correlated their findings. Results Thirty-one SSc patients undergoing esophageal transit scintigraphy were included. Twentyseven were female, 8 with diffuse cutaneous subset; 26/31 (84%) patients had a delayed transit and an abnormal esophageal emptying activity. Mean (SD) emptying activity percentage was higher in patients with none-to-mild GIT 2.0 reflux score [81.1 (11.5)] than in those with the moderate [55.7 (17.8), p = 0.003] and severe-to-very-severe scores [55.8 (19.7), p = 0.002]. The 26 (84%) SSc patients with delayed esophageal transit had a higher GIT 2.0 reflux score (p=0.04). Percentage of esophageal emptying activity negatively correlated with the GIT 2.0 reflux score (r = - 0.68, p < 0.0001) while it did not correlate with the other scales and the total GIT 2.0 score. Conclusion SSc patients with impaired esophageal scintigraphy findings have a higher GIT 2.0 reflux score. 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.