Dysphagia secondary to systemic diseases

Abstract

Systemic disease may cause dysphagia by several mechanisms, such as salivary gland impairment causing xerostomia, and painful mucosal blisters and ulcers impairing oral, pharyngeal, and esophageal function. In addition acute and chronic mucosal and submucosal inflammation may result in strictures in the esophagus and pharynx. Altered biomechanics of oral and pharyngeal musculature may be due to cervical spine abnormalities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Finally, vasculitides might involve vessels in the central nervous system and thereby lead to cortical and brainstem ischemia and thus neurological impairment which may cause dysphagia.