Compared with healthy controls, patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) harbor a distinct colonic microbial signature that may perpetuate immunological aberrations and contribute to clinical manifestations of SSc. This according to a study of 17 patients with SSc and 17 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Researchers found:

• Mean total gastrointestinal (GIT) symptom score among patients with SSc was 0.7.

• Principal coordinate analysis showed significant microbial community differences in the cecum and sigmoid regions of patients with SSc vs health controls.

• Similar to patients with inflammatory disease states, patients with SSc had decreased commensal bacteria, such as Faecalibacterium and Clostridium, and increased pathobiont bacteria, such as Fusobacterium and y-Proteobacteria, vs health controls.

• However, patients with SSc had increased Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus, which are typically reduced in inflammation.

• Patients with SSc and moderate/severe GIT symptoms had decreased Bacteroides fragilis and increased Fusobacterium vs patients with SSc and none/mild symptoms.

Citation: Volkmann ER, Chang YL, Barroso N, et al. Systemic sclerosis is associated with a unique colonic microbial consortium. [Published online ahead of print January 8, 2016]. Arthritis Rheumatol. doi: 10.1002/art.39572.