Richard N, et al. - Researchers evaluated the incidence, predictors, and outcomes related to severe gastrointestinal (GI) disease in a large inception systemic sclerosis (SSc) cohort. They identified individuals with SSc and < 2 years of disease duration from two multicenter cohorts. In early SSc, severe GI disease is common. They noted an association of this disease with significant morbidity and increased mortality. Findings suggested a correlation between severe GI disease and a > 2-fold increase in the risk of death and worse health-related quality of life. Multivariate analysis suggested an association of severe GI disease with inflammatory myositis, telangiectasias, and modified Rodnan skin score.