Faculty Collaboration Database

Upper esophageal sphincter function during gastroesophageal reflux events revisited. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2000 Aug;279(2):G262-7

Date

08/01/2000

Pubmed ID

10915633

DOI

10.1152/ajpgi.2000.279.2.G262

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0033851226 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   54 Citations

Abstract

Upper esophageal sphincter (UES) function during gastroesophageal reflux events is not completely elucidated because previous studies addressing this issue yielded conflicting results. We reexamined the UES pressure response to intraluminal esophageal pressure and pH changes induced by reflux events. We studied 14 healthy, asymptomatic volunteers (age 49 +/- 6 yr) and 7 gastroesophageal reflux disease patients (age 48 +/- 5 yr). UES pressure, intraesophageal pressure, and pH were monitored at the distal, middle, and proximal esophagus concurrently in the supine position 1 h before and 2 h after a 1,000-calorie meal. A total of 321 reflux events were identified by the development of abrupt reflux-induced intraesophageal pressure increase (IPI); 285 events occurred in patients and 36 in control subjects. In control subjects 33 of 36 and in patients 252 of 285 IPI events were associated with a pH drop. Among patients and control subjects, 99% and 100%, respectively, of all IPI events irrespective of pH drop were associated with abrupt increase in UES pressure (34 +/- 2 and 27 +/- 6 mmHg, respectively). The average percentage of maximum UES pressure increase over prereflux values ranged between 66% and 96% (control subjects) and 34% and 122% (patients). IPIs induced by both acidic and nonacidic reflux events evoke strong UES contractile responses.

Author List

Torrico S, Kern M, Aslam M, Narayanan S, Kannappan A, Ren J, Sui Z, Hofmann C, Shaker R

Author

Reza Shaker MD Assoc Provost, Sr Assoc Dean, Ctr Dir, Chief, Prof in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Acids
Adult
Esophagus
Gastroesophageal Reflux
Humans
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Middle Aged
Muscle Contraction
Muscle, Smooth
Peristalsis
Pressure