Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0014848 (achalasia)
 2,804 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Intraluminal manometric studies were carried out in 19 patients with untreated achalasia and in 20 normals. Lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure was 50.5 +/-4.6 mm Hg in patients with achalasia as compared with 19.4 +/-1.3 mm Hg in the normal group. In both groups, the LES pressure was lowered when exogenous 0.1 N HCl was placed into the stomach. Although the nadir of pressure attained with acid suppression was the same, the per cent inhibition was significantly greater in patients with achalasia. Serum gastrin levels were the same in the two groups studied. The patients with achalasia, pre- and postpneumatic dilatation, showed a supersensitivity to exogenous intravenous gastrin I, as compared with normals. These data suggest that high, acid-suppressible levels of LES pressure, in patients with achalasia, are due to supersensitivity to endogenous gastrin.
 ...
PMID:Role of gastrin supersensitivity in the pathogenesis of lower esophageal sphincter hypertension in achalasia. 557 32

Thirty-four consecutive patients referred to a gastroenterology clinic with suspected esophageal motility abnormality as a cause of their chest pain or dysphagia, or both, were prospectively studied in an 18-mo period. Peristaltic response to 10 wet (5 ml H2O) swallows was recorded in all studies with a low-compliance infusion system. To provoke symptoms and motility abnormalities after baseline evaluation, all patients had acid infusions (0.1 N HCl) and administration of edrophonium (80 micrograms/kg i.v.), pentagastrin (6 micrograms/kg s.c.), and bethanechol (40 micrograms/kg s.c.). Tracings were coded, read, and interpreted blindly. Baseline tracings were abnormal in 23 of 34 patients (68%), including increased amplitude peristaltic contractions ("nutcracker esophagus") in 10 and nonspecific esophageal motor disorders in 13. Acid infusion produced substernal burning in 3 of 33 patients, in motility change in 1 patient. Edrophonium produced chest pain with manometric changes in 6 of 34 (18%) patients. Pentagastrin produced chest pain with manometric change in 1 patient. Bethanechol produced chest pain with manometric change in 2 patients. One patient with low amplitude had elevation of esophageal baseline and multiple simultaneous contractions but no chest pain (subsequently developed achalasia). It was concluded that (a) abnormal motility is a common finding in a symptomatic group of patients with presumed esophageal motility disorder, (b) the "nutcracker" esophagus is the most frequent defect, and (c) attempted provocation of symptoms with acid or drugs is not generally effective; however, edrophonium is the best tolerated and most effective of currently available drugs.
 ...
PMID:Prospective manometric evaluation with pharmacologic provocation of patients with suspected esophageal motility dysfunction. 683 64

The pathogenesis of achalasia involves the degeneration of enteric and autonomic nervous systems with resultant effects on esophageal motility. The neural degeneration could affect visceral sensation in achalasia. The aim of this study was to examine mechanosensitivity and chemosensitivity in patients with achalasia. Perceptual responses to esophageal distension and acid perfusion were assessed in nine achalasia patients and nine healthy subjects. Mechanosensitivity was evaluated using a barostat with a double-random staircase distension protocol. Responses were graded as follows: 0, no sensation; 1, initial sensation; 2, mild discomfort; 3, moderate discomfort; and 4, pain. Chemosensitivity was graded along a visual analog scale after perfusion of saline and 0.1 N HCl. Barostat pressure-volume relationships were used to report esophageal body compliance. Barostat pressures for initial sensation and mild discomfort were not significantly different for patients and controls. The pressures for moderate discomfort (37.9 +/- 3.5 vs. 25.7 +/- 2.4 mmHg; P < 0.05) and pain (47.8 +/- 2.3 vs. 32.2 +/- 3.5 mmHg; P = 0.002) were significantly higher in achalasics than controls. Seven of the eight achalasia patients never reached pain thresholds at the maximum distension pressure (50 mmHg). Sensation to acid perfusion was significantly lower in achalasics compared with controls (2.2 +/- 1.2 vs. 6.7 +/- 1.7 cm; P < 0.05). Compliance was significantly increased in patients with achalasia compared with controls. We conclude that both mechanosensitivity and chemosensitivity are significantly diminished in achalasia patients compared with controls. Also, initial sensation and pain sensation are differentially affected in achalasics. These findings suggest that neuropathic defects in achalasia may manifest themselves in visceral sensory and motor dysfunction.
 ...
PMID:Diminished mechanosensitivity and chemosensitivity in patients with achalasia. 1461 20