Elevated ANA titers in patients with severely abnormal gastrointestinal motility

We studied a group of six patients with clinical, radiological, and/or manometric features of severely abnormal gastrointestinal motility. Symptoms suggestive of esophageal, small bowel, or colonic involvement were present from 1 1/2 to 40 years. All patients had elevated antinuclear antibody (ANA) titers. None had clinical or radiographic features suggestive of progressive systemic sclerosis or other connective tissue diseases. Two patients had pathologic examinations of intestinal specimens, and these did not show changes suggestive of progressive systemic sclerosis. We conclude that patients with severe gastrointestinal motility disorders can have elevated ANA titers without features of progressive systemic sclerosis or other connective tissue diseases.This study was supported by the National Institutes of Health grant AM 25965 and grant RR 59 from the General Research Centers Program, Division of Research Resources, National Institutes of Health.