Gastrointestinal Manifestations in Juvenile-Onset Systemic Sclerosis Characterized Using UCLA Scleroderma Clinical Trial Consortium Instrument

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Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center have conducted a study to characterize gastrointestinal manifestations in juvenile-onset systemic sclerosis (jSSc) using the UCLA Scleroderma Clinical Trial Consortium Gastrointestinal Tract 2.0 (UCLA GIT 2.0) patient-reported outcome (PRO) instrument. The study found that distension/bloating and reflux were the most affected domains in jSSc patients, with 70% of patients reporting these symptoms. The UCLA GIT 2.0 instrument demonstrated acceptable validity and sensitivity to change, and its use in pediatric SSc is recommended for both research and clinical settings.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UCLA GIT 2.0 instrument was used to characterize gastrointestinal manifestations in 51 jSSc patients, with a mean age of onset of 9.8 years and a mean disease duration of 4.4 years.
  • Distension/bloating and reflux were the most affected domains in jSSc patients, with 70% of patients reporting these symptoms.
  • The UCLA GIT 2.0 instrument showed moderate to strong significant correlations with the Scleroderma Health Assessment Questionnaire GI and Global visual analog scales (SHAQ-GI-VAS, SHAQ-DIS-VAS), supporting convergent validity.
  • Among 22 patients with paired data, the mean Total UCLA GIT 2.0 improved by 0.11 points (p = 0.039), and 55% achieved a clinically important improvement in 1 domain, indicating preliminary responsiveness.
  • The research concluded that the UCLA GIT 2.0 instrument appears suitable for monitoring GI outcomes in pediatric SSc in both research and clinical settings.

Statistics:

  • 51 jSSc patients were included in the study, with a mean UCLA GIT 2.0 Total score of 0.30, indicating mild GI burden.
  • 70% of patients reported distension/bloating and reflux symptoms.
  • 22 patients with paired data showed a mean Total UCLA GIT 2.0 improvement of 0.11 points (p = 0.039).
  • 55% of patients with paired data achieved a clinically important improvement in 1 domain.

Sources:

  • Gastrointestinal Impact and Tool Performance in Juvenile Systemic Sclerosis Using the UCLA GIT 2.0 Assessment. Arthritis Care & Research, 2025.
  • NewsRx. Research from University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Yields New Findings on Gastroenterology (Gastrointestinal Impact and Tool Performance in Juvenile Systemic Sclerosis Using the UCLA GIT 2.0 Assessment). Gastroenterology Week. September 15, 2025; p 3281.