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Deterioration of the pharyngo-UES contractile reflex in the elderly. Laryngoscope 2000 Sep;110(9):1563-6

Date

09/13/2000

Pubmed ID

10983963

DOI

10.1097/00005537-200009000-00031

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0033822452 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   37 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Deterioration of aerodigestive tract reflexes such as the esophagoglottal and pharyngoglottal closure reflexes and pharyngeal swallow has been documented in the elderly. However, the effect of aging on the contractile response of the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) to pharyngeal water stimulation has not been studied. The aim of this study was to characterize the pharyngo-UES reflex in the healthy elderly.

METHODS: We studied nine healthy elderly (77 +/- 1 y [SD]; four men, five women) and nine healthy young volunteers (26 +/- 2 y [SD]; four men, five women). AUES sleeve sensor was used to measure the pressure. We tested pharyngeal stimulation induced by rapid pulse and slow continuous injection of water.

RESULTS: The volume of water required to stimulate the pharyngo-UES contractile reflex by rapid pulse injection in the elderly (0.5 +/- 34 0.1 mL) was significantly higher than that in the young (0.1 +/- 0.02 mL) (P < .05). In contrast to young subjects, there was no pressure increase in resting UES pressure observed in the elderly for continuous pharyngeal water infusion. In both young and elderly, the threshold volume for the pharyngo-UES contractile reflex was significantly lower than that for pharyngeal swallows.

CONCLUSIONS: The pharyngo-UES contractile reflex deteriorates with aging. This deterioration is primarily due to abnormalities of the afferent limb of the reflex.

Author List

Ren J, Xie P, Lang IM, Bardan E, Sui Z, Shaker R

Authors

Ivan M. Lang DVM, PhD Adjunct Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
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

Aged
Esophagogastric Junction
Female
Humans
Male
Manometry
Muscle Contraction
Pharyngeal Muscles
Reflex, Abnormal
Time Factors
Water