The role of high-resolution impedance manometry to identify rumination syndrome in children with unexplained foregut symptoms.

OBJECTIVES: Diagnosis of rumination syndrome (RS) relies on Rome IV criteria. Oesophageal high-resolution impedance manometry (HRIM) can objectively demonstrate the episodes of rumination, but its role in the diagnostic pathway is not yet established. We aimed to demonstrate the clinical contribution of this tool for the timely diagnosis of RS and diagnostic work-up of children with unexplained foregut symptoms deemed to be due to other conditions. METHODS: HRIMs performed between 2012 and 2021 were searched to retrieve all diagnoses of RS. Medical records were reviewed for clinical data. RESULTS: Out of 461 HRIMs performed, 76 children had manometric diagnosis of RS (35 male, median age: 13 years). Of them, 47% were not clinically suspected as the symptoms did not fulfil clinical criteria for RS. The indications for HRIM in these cases were investigation of unexplained foregut symptoms (37%), suspected refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (8%) and dysphagia (2%). Among all HRIMs performed for investigations of unexplained foregut symptoms (n = 80), 35% demonstrated rumination episodes. CONCLUSION: Identification of characteristic patterns of rumination on HRIM in children with unexplained foregut symptoms enables the immediate diagnosis of RS. Thus, in situations of diagnostic uncertainty, the use of HRIM at early stages of the diagnostic pathway would reduce unnecessary investigations and treatments.

Oesophageal motor disorders and oesophageal endoscopic involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis: a systematic association?

INTRODUCTION: Although oesophageal motor disorders (OMDs) are frequent in systemic sclerosis (SSc), the frequency of associated endoscopic lesions is unknown. We aimed at assessing the presence of endoscopic lesions in SSc patients with OMD. The secondary objective was to identify the clinical and serological profile of such patients. METHODS: This retrospective study included SSc patients suffering from OMD diagnosed by oesophageal high-resolution manometry (OHRM) and with recent upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy (UGIE). Clinical data collected were age, gender, body mass index, SSc disease duration, tobacco, SSc cutaneous type, non-digestive SSc visceral disorders, oesophageal symptoms, serological profile (autoantibodies), proton pump inhibitor use, time between SSc diagnosis and UGIE. RESULTS: 53 selected patients from 210 SSc patients investigated by OHRM in our department were included. Among these patients, 25 (47.2%) had endoscopic lesions: 18 (34.6%) had oesophagitis and 7 (13.5%) had Barrett's oesophagus. The only two parameters significantly associated with endoscopic lesions were a shorter disease duration (6 vs. 11 years; p = .002) and a shorter delay between SSc diagnosis and UGIE (3 vs. 8.5 years; p = .002). No other clinical or biological parameters could help identify the patients at risk of endoscopic lesion. CONCLUSION: In our study, only a shorter disease duration and a shorter delay between SSc diagnosis and UGIE were significantly associated with the presence of endoscopic lesions in patients with OMD, but no other parameters were identified. This study highlights the need to perform UGIE in SSc patients with OMD whatever their clinical symptoms.