Evaluation of esophageal high-resolution manometry combined with 24-hour pH monitor in detecting endoscopy-negative chest pain of esophageal origin / 中华消化内镜杂志

Objective To investigate esophageal high-resolution manometry (HRM) combined with 24-hour pH monitor in detecting endoscopy-negative chest pain of esophageal origin.Methods Test results of esophageal HRM combined with 24-hour pH monitor from 40 patients with recurring chest pain of esophageal origin were retrospectively analyzed.Results In 40 patients,27 (67.5％) were diagnosed as gastroesophageal reflux disease with an average DeMeester scores at 18.3 ± 3.4,including 19 patients with esophageal body dismotility and 11 with reduced lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) at a mean reduction of 5.7 mm Hg.There were 6 cases (15.0％) of achalasia,in which 1 (2.5％) was type Ⅰ and 5 (12.5％)was type Ⅱ,with an average relaxation ratio of lower esophageal sphincter (RRLES) at (30.1 ± 2.3) ％.There were 4 cases of diffuse esophageal spasm (DES),with an average contraction frontal velocity (CFV) of 12.3 ± 2.4 cm ·s-1 and abnormal contraction waves in esophageal body,spontaneous synchronous contraction waves were observed in 3 of 4 patients LESP increased in 1 patient with DES and remained normal in other 3.RRLES decreased in 2 cases with DES and remained normal in other 2.There were 2 cases (5.0％)of nutcracker esophagus,with an average distal contractile integral at 6745.5 ± 175.2 mm Hg·cm-1 ·s-1 and an average CFV at 4.3 ±0.4 cm·s-1.There was 1 case (2.5％) with absence of esophageal peristalsis,with a low LESP at 2 mmHg and DeMeester scores at 38.3.The patient was finally diagnosed as systemic sclerosis according to esophageal biopsy and other auxiliary examination.Conclusion HRM combined with 24-hour pH monitor is valuable in detecting endoscopy-negative chest pain of esophageal origin.

The Significance of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) Symptoms in Patients with Reflux Esophagitis / 대한소화관운동학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The relationship between the symptoms and severity of GERD may be difficult to prove. The intensity and frequency of reflux induced symptoms are poor predictors of the presence or severity of an endoscopic mucosal break. The aim of this study was to determine which factors can be predicted by the presence of GERD symptoms among esophageal sensitivity to acid, abnormal acid reflux, and severity of esophagitis in pateints with reflux esophagitis. METHODS: Fourty-four patients who were diagnosed with reflux esophagitis by an endoscopy at a tertiary medical facility, were given a validated questionnaire, and underwent an acid perfusion test, 24 hr ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring, and esophageal manometry. These patients were divided into a symptomatic group and asymptomatic group according to the questionaire. Comparisons between the two groups for each factor were analyzed by Chi-square. RESULT: Of 44 patients, 26 had symptoms and 18 did not. The positive and equivocal rates of the acid perfusion test were not different between the symptomatic and asymptomatic groups (47% vs. 39%). The abnormal reflux rate (DeMeester score > 14.72) from pH monitoring was significantly higher in the symptomatic group than in the asymptomatic group (65% vs. 28%, p < 0.05). The severity of esophagitis, presence of a hiatal hernia, and abnormal esophageal manometric findings were not different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: It would be impossible to predict esophageal sensitivity to acid, severity of the esophagitis grade, and the presence of hiatal hernia with GERD symptoms, but it could be possible to predict abnormal gastroesophageal reflux.

Patterns of Gastroesophageal Reflux and Esophageal Motility in Patients with Mild Reflux Esophagitis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The major complications of reflux esophagitis are stricture formation and Barrett's esophagus. In Korea, the incidence of these complications is low and most patients with reflux esophagitis undergo a mild clinical course. The purpose of this study was to investigate patterns of acid reflux and esophageal motility in mild reflux esophagitis in Korea. METHODS: Using conventional manometry and 24-hour ambulatory pH monitoring, we were investigated esophageal motility and patterns of gastroesophageal reflux in 41 patients with reflux esophagitis Savary-Miller (S-M) Ib using on endoscopy. The total supine, and upright reflux periods, as well as frequency and duration of reflux episodes were determined from the 24-hour pH monitoring record using standard software. Pathologic reflux was defined when the percentage of the total time with pH less than 4 (acid exposure time) exceeded 4%. RESULTS: Pathologic reflux was observed in 17 patients (41.5%), who were categorized into upright refluxers (70.6%), supine refluxers (11.8%), and combined refluxers (17.6%). Patients with reflux esophagitis did not differ in lower esophageal sphincter pressure from the normal subjects. There were two patients (4.9%) with a lower esophageal pressure > or =10 mmHg and four patients (9.8%) with hiatal hernia. Failed peristalsis was seen in 4 patients (9.8%). CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion of upright reflux and low incidence of esophageal peristaltic dysfunction may contribute to the low incidence of stricture formation and Barrett's esophagus in patients with mild reflux esophagitis in Korea.