Abstract
Pediatric rheumatic diseases are often associated with gastrointestinal symptoms. Abdominal pain is the most frequently reported complaint. In this review, we discuss the gastrointestinal manifestations of chronic rheumatic syndromes: motility disorders of collagenosis, mixed connective tissue disease and Sjögrens syndrome associated with the risk of esophagitis due to gastro-esophageal reflux. Furthermore, we summarize data about non-steroidal antiinflammatory drug-induced gastroduodenal lesions in childhood and adolescence. The relevance of co-medication with steroids for the pathogenesis of these lesions is controversial. Further prospective studies are necessary to examine which sensitivities and specifics are raised by invasive and non-invasive procedures such as endoscopy, testing of intestinal and gastric permeability, fecal 1-antitrypsin excretion, and fecal occult blood testing to indicate gastrointestinal lesions in pediatric rheumatic diseases.
Keywords: systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjorgen, ’, s syndrome, gastrointestinal dysfunction, NSAID, gastroduodenal injury, inflammation
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