Small Bowel Motility in Patients With Systemic Sclerosis

Several studies using intestinal manometry have reported alterations in small bowel motility in patients with systemic sclerosis. Our aim is to apply endoluminal image analysis to stratify the intestinal motor dysfunction in these patients can be assessed by non-invasive techniques. Consecutive patients with systemic sclerosis referred to our institution will be prospectively investigated using automated non-invasive techniques developed in our laboratory. Intraluminal images of the gut were obtained by capsule endoscopy. Endoluminal image analysis will be performed with original, previously validated programs based on computer vision and machine learning techniques.