Association of symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux, esophageal dilation and progression of systemic sclerosis-related interstitial lung disease.

Severity of reflux symptoms as measured by an SSc-specific questionnaire was independently associated with the change in the radiographic extent of ILD and fibrosis over two years in patients with SSc-ILD. Two objective measures of esophageal dilation were not associated with radiographic progression of ILD, highlighting the need for improved objective measures of esophageal dysfunction in SSc.