Faculty Collaboration Database

Myosin heavy chain composition and fiber size of the cricopharyngeus muscle in patients with achalasia and normal subjects. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2007 Sep;116(9):643-6

Date

10/12/2007

Pubmed ID

17926584

DOI

10.1177/000348940711600903

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-34548830715 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   8 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Cricopharyngeal achalasia (CA) can be defined as inadequate opening of the cricopharyngeus muscle (CPM) resulting in dysphagia. Myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoform fiber type composition and size are key determinants of muscle function. These parameters have not been described in CA. It is hypothesized that there is a difference between the MHC isoform composition of the CPM in patients with the clinical diagnosis of CA and that in normal subjects.

METHODS: Patients who had received prior botulinum were excluded. The MHC fiber type composition and size in patients and cadaveric controls were determined by adenosine triphosphatase staining and image analysis.

RESULTS: The CPMs of 12 CA patients (6 male, 6 female; mean age, 61 years) and 5 control cadaveric subjects (3 male, 2 female; mean age, 67 years) were analyzed. There were relatively fewer type I fibers (67%) in patients with CA than in controls (81%), but the difference was not significant (p = .18). Type I fibers were slightly smaller in CA patients (38.7 microm) than in controls (47.2 microm), but this was not significantly different (p > .05). Of the 12 CA patients, 3 had type II predominance, a feature not seen in normal subjects.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CA had relatively fewer type I fibers, although the difference was not statistically significant. The MHC isoform composition and fiber size were not different between CA patients and normal subjects. This is the first report to characterize the CPM in patients with CA.

Author List

Davis MV, Merati AL, Jaradeh SS, Blumin JH

Author

Joel H. Blumin MD Chief, Professor in the Otolaryngology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

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

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biopsy
Esophageal Achalasia
Esophageal Sphincter, Upper
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Muscle Contraction
Muscle Fibers, Skeletal
Myosin Heavy Chains
Retrospective Studies