Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Systemic sclerosis (SS) is a systemic connective tissue disease characterized by changes in the collagen structure that lead to fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is most commonly affected, and it significantly impacts the daily lives of patients. A fatal complication of GI involvement is chronic megacolon, which has been detected in only a few patients in recent years. CASE PRESENTATION: A 51-year-old female with a 10-year history of poorly controlled SS had suffered constipation, abdominal bloating, vomiting, and fever for two weeks and eventually developed chronic megacolon. Conservative treatments and medications failed to relieve the symptoms and resolve the condition. The patient ultimately required surgical intervention. This case highlights the importance of timely evaluation and management of SS-related GI complications. CONCLUSIONS: Procedures such as colonoscopy are instrumental in monitoring disease progression and providing therapeutic relief. Frequent physical examinations may help predict the failure of conservative approaches and guide clinicians toward surgical interventions to prevent life-threatening complications.
Authors: Zhe-Jia Liu, Jung-Chun Lin, Yi-Chiao Cheng
Institutions: Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center
Language: English
Subfield: Pathology and Forensic Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,090
OpenAlex ID: W4409706716