Esophageal motility in systemic lupus erythematosus

Esophageal manometric studies made in 50 unselected patients with systemic lupus erythematosus disclosed abnormalities in 16. Absent or abnormally low contractions were found at the upper third in 7, at the lower two-thirds in 3, in the entire esophagus in 2, at the lower esophageal sphincter in 2, and at the lower two-thirds plus the lower sphincter in the other 2. There was no relationship between the presence of esophageal dysfunction and activity, duration, or treatment of lupus at the time of the study. Esophageal motor disturbances are part of the spectrum of systemic lupus erythematosus.