Distal Esophageal Hypercontractility Is Related to Abnormal Acid Exposure

Julio César Soto-Pérez, Sergio Sobrino-Cossío, Paul B. Higgins, Anthony G. Comuzzie, Jose Antonio Vargas Romero, Arturo Reding-Bernal, Juan Carlos López-Alvarenga

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background and Aims: Nutcracker esophagus (NE) is a frequent primary motility disorder of the distal esophagus, and the relationship with acid exposure remains controversial. We studied simultaneous distal esophageal hypercontractility (EH) using two sensors at 8 and 3 cm above the lower sphincter (LES) and abnormal exposure to acid (pH DeMeester score). Methods: From 400 screened patients with chest pain and heartburn, 54 (age 44.5 ± 8.8 years and 74% females) had abnormal manometry and underwent acid exposure measurement. Frequencies of the EH disorder were classic NE (EH3 cm) found in 29 (40.8%) patients, diffuse (EH3,8 cm) in 30 patients (42.3%), and upper segmental (EH8 cm) in 12 patients (16.9%). Results: We found a positive correlation among age with high amplitude in EH3 cm and EH3,8 cm. DeMeester's score (DMS) had the lowest value for EH3,8 cm (2.58 ± 0.23) compared with EH8 cm (3.78 ± 0.3, p <0.003) and EH3 cm (3.12 ± 0.2, p <0.06). Surface response for joint effect of age and DMS on amplitude at EH3 cm confirmed the highest amplitude was for older age and lower DMS. Conclusions: EH3 cm and EH3,8 cm were common for esophageal motility and were inversely associated with DMS. Meanwhile, acid exposure was higher in younger patients and hypercontractility was more frequent in older subjects. The former group may benefit more from proton pump inhibitors and the latter from visceral analgesics or possibly both.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)104-109
Number of pages6
JournalArchives of Medical Research
Volume42
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Chest pain
  • Esophageal motility disorders
  • Lower esophageal sphincter
  • Manometry
  • Upper esophageal sphincter

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