Protective role of interleukin-6 in systemic sclerosis gastrointestinal tract involvement: case report and review of the literature

摘要

The GIT in SSc is a challenge to study due to limited data on pathophysiology, and considerable practice variation in approach for diagnostics as well as empiric treatment for GIT symptoms (3, 4). In particular, the role of ischaemia, inflammation, fibrosis, and neural function in the spectrum of mild to severe GIT dysfunction is unclear. Histology studies of the oesophagus, small intestine, and large bowel have important limitations (3), in particular the fact that they were conducted in subjects with long SSc disease duration and with heterogeneous disease severity. As such, large gaps in our understanding of the pathogenesis of SSc-GIT disease remain (Fig. 1).