Ricerc@Sapienza

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease characterized by endothelial dysfunction, microvascular and macrovascular damage and fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. Raynaud¿s phenomenon is one of the hallmarks of SSc and involves both the macro and microvasculature. Many of the severe internal organ complications of SSc are vascular, including pulmonary arterial hypertension and gastrointestinal complications. Chronic diseases associated with systemic inflammatory response have been frequently associated with malnutrition. In SSc, the prevalence of protein¿energy malnutrition (PEM) ranges from 15% to 30%. The involvement of the gastro-intestinal tract can significantly contribute to nutritional status deterioration. Several studies reported that moderate risk of malnutrition is associated with markers of gastrointestinal involvement and physician global assessment of disease severity. The body composition derangements are significantly associated with disease activity and mortality. Evidence exists on the prognostic impact of disease-related malnutrition and muscle wasting and the importance of including the nutritional domain in the general assessment of patients affected by SSc. In the small intestine, bacterial overgrowth due to luminal content stasis or decreased permeability secondary to intestinal fibrosis, may cause malabsorption. Recent studies report alterations in gut microbiota in the SSc. Microbial signatures of dysbiosis in the gut microbiota of SSc patients are associated with clinical evidence of gastrointestinal disease and disease severity. More recently, the possible role of altered gut microbiota profile in the pathogenesis of GI tract symptoms in SSc led to exploration of probiotic therapy for symptomatic bloating in SSc. Aim of this study is to evaluate body composition in SSc patients and to ascertain whether correlations exist between body composition, microvascular damage and gut microbiota.