Flagyl is in the nitroimidazole class of antibiotics and has been used successfully to treat cases of intestinal pseudo-obstruction, a potential complication in patients with systemic scleroderma who may develop slowed gut motility that can lead to intestinal overgrowths of various microbes, fungi and parasites.
Nihon Rinsh ō Menʾeki Gakkai. 2011;34(1):53-61.
Case study presented of a 57-year-old woman, diagnosed with systemic scleroderma, demonstrating the marked efficacy of the use of metronidazole, an antibiotic in the class of nitroimidazoles, to successfully manage the complication of intestinal pseudo-obstruction, published in the Japanese journal, Nihon RinshŌ Meneki Gakkai Kaishi.
Secondary case study – abstract unavailable but full PDF of study may be purchased at the following link.
A case of pseudoobstruction of the intestine associated with scleroderma dramatically responding to antibiotics. J Gastroenterol. , 41:711