Systemic sclerosis with chronic megacolon complicated by bowel obstruction: a case report.

backgroundSystemic sclerosis (SS) is a systemic connective tissue disease characterized by changes in the collagen structure that lead to fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is most commonly affected, and it significantly impacts the daily lives of patients. A fatal complication of GI involvement is chronic megacolon, which has been detected in only a few patients in recent years. CASE PRESENTATION: A 51-year-old female with a 10-year history of poorly controlled SS had suffered constipation, abdominal bloating, vomiting, and fever for two weeks and eventually developed chronic megacolon. Conservative treatments and medications failed to relieve the symptoms and resolve the condition. The patient ultimately required surgical intervention. This case highlights the importance of timely evaluation and management of SS-related GI complications.

conclusionsProcedures such as colonoscopy are instrumental in monitoring disease progression and providing therapeutic relief. Frequent physical examinations may help predict the failure of conservative approaches and guide clinicians toward surgical interventions to prevent life-threatening complications.