Autonomic dysfunction in non-specific disorders of oesophageal motility

Objective: Non-specific disorders of oesophageal motility are common manometric findings in patients presenting with non-cardiac chest pain, dysphagia, odynophagia, regurgitation and symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Impairment of vagal function has been reported in gastro-oesophageal r...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery 2000-02, Vol.17 (2), p.101-105
Main Authors: Pirtniecks, A., Smith, L.F, Thorpe, J.A.C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Autonomic function
Autonomic Nervous System Diseases - complications
Autonomic Nervous System Diseases - diagnosis
Autonomic Nervous System Diseases - physiopathology
Biological and medical sciences
Case-Control Studies
Chest Pain - physiopathology
Esophageal Motility Disorders - diagnosis
Esophageal Motility Disorders - physiopathology
Esophagus
Female
Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen
Gastroesophageal Reflux - physiopathology
Humans
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Male
Manometry
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Motility disorder
Oesophageal manometry
Other diseases. Semiology
Prospective Studies
Vagus Nerve - physiopathology
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Summary:Objective: Non-specific disorders of oesophageal motility are common manometric findings in patients presenting with non-cardiac chest pain, dysphagia, odynophagia, regurgitation and symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Impairment of vagal function has been reported in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and achalasia. The role of autonomic dysfunction in patients with non-specific oesophageal disorders is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess autonomic function in patients with non-specific disorders of oesophageal motility. Method: An automated computerized system (AUTOCAFT) was used to evaluate autonomic function in 62 patients presenting with non-cardiac chest pain and associated oesophageal symptoms. Cardiovascular reflex responses to deep breathing, Valsalva manoeuvre, posture and sustained handgrip were measured and results compared with 14 sex- and age-matched control subjects. Results: Forty percent of patients with non-specific disorders of oesophageal motility proved to have significant abnormalities of vagal function. There was also a high incidence of gastro-oesophageal reflux (50%). Conclusions: There appears to be autonomic dysfunction in patients with non-specific oesophageal motility disorders. Autonomic function tests may prove to be a useful tool in the assessment of oesophageal function.
ISSN:1010-7940
1873-734X
DOI:10.1016/S1010-7940(99)00368-1