POS1593-HPR GASTROINTESTINAL INVOLVEMENT IS ALREADY REPORTED IN AN ITALIAN VEDOSS COHORT: RESULTS FROM A RHEUMATOLOGICAL NURSE ASSESSMENT

Background Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is often involved in Systemic Sclerosis (SSc), even in the very early diagnosis of SSc (VEDOSS). In SSc, the oesophagus is mainly involved, followed by the anorectum: therefore, the GIT is the second most affected organ system in SSc patients. Patient education performed by rheumatology nurses on GIT symptoms prevention and management can be of help in the disease management, starting from a meticulous data collection. Objectives The aim of our study was to investigate the differences, in VEDOSS and SSc patients of GIT involvement assessed by the UCLA GIT questionnaire administered by rheumatology nurses. Methods 50 patients (22 VEDOSS and 28 SSc) from the Scleroderma Unit of Careggi University Hospital were enrolled. Demographic data, Raynaud’s phenomenon, autoantibodies, videocapillaroscopy patterns, puffy fingers and digital ulcers were recorded for VEDOSS and SSc patients. GIT symptoms, disability and quality of life were respectively assessed by the administration UCLA GIT 2.0, HAQ and SF36 questionnaires guided by the rheumatology nurse. Results Demographic data, Raynaud’s phenomenon, autoantibodies, videocapillaroscopy patterns, puffy fingers and digital ulcers manifestations are reported in Table 1 for both groups of patients. Disability and quality of life, respectively assessed by HAQ and SF36 are shown to be more significantly modified in the SSc group than in the VEDOSS (p <0.05), especially the impact of the disease on physical health (p<0.005) (table2). Moreover, VEDOSS patients presented GIT symptoms and pain, assessed by UCLA GIT 2.0 and VAS pain, not different from the SSc group (p >0.05) (Table 2). GIT symptoms and complications such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), malnutrition, diarrhea, constipation, and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, occurred in both SSc and VEDOSS groups impairing significantly patients’ quality of life. Conclusion our data suggest that it is important to consider GIT involvement also in VEDOSS patients. Therefore, a specific assessment of GIT involvement should be always performed in clinical practice. This work also shows that the role of Rheumatology nurses is important as their help in patients’ assessment of patients reported outcomes and symptoms becomes pivotal to prepare the patient for the physician’s analysis. Thus, recognising the early GIT involvement with a standard screening may lead to shape an early treatment to improve patients’ quality of life.