系统性硬化症患者高分辨率测压下食管动力特点

目的 应用高分辨率测压的方法对系统性硬化症患者食管运动功能及其与食管症状的关系进行研究.方法 选择临床确诊为系统性硬化症的患者18例,均接受36通道高分辨率食管测压检查,记录食管括约肌静息压力、10次5 ml水及10 ml水连续吞咽状态下食管体部蠕动情况.结果 18例受试者中失蠕动8例,弱蠕动9例(频发性无蠕动及大缺损性弱蠕动7例),下食管括约肌压力降低8例.连续吞咽中88.9％的患者未见蠕动波出现.10例存在食管症状者中,失蠕动患者6例,食管体部弱蠕动4例.无食管症状者中,2例失蠕动,5例食管体部弱蠕动.结论 食管功能异常在系统性硬化症患者中发生率较高,疾病早期无食管症状者即可出现食管动力异常.     

非梗阻性吞咽困难高分辨率食管测压分析

目的 分析非梗阻性吞咽困难(NOD)患者的疾病分布和食管动力特点.方法 选取2010年6月至2012年6月97例吞咽时有胸骨后梗阻感的患者,经内镜和上消化道造影排除食管器质性狭窄.另选取同期健康志愿者9名为健康对照组.采用荷兰CTDSynectics高分辨率多通道胃肠功能监测系统(Pcpolygraf多导记录系统)和MMS消化道动力检测系统进行高分辨率食管测压,观察指标包括上食管括约肌压力(UESP)、上食管括约肌松弛率(UESRR)、下食管括约肌长度(LESL)、下食管括约肌压力(LESP)、完整松弛压(IRP)、下食管括约肌松弛率(LESRR)、食管体部下段压力、食管体部有效蠕动比例.组间比较行秩和检验.结果 97例NOD患者中贲门失弛缓症、非特异性食管动力异常、胃食管反流病(GERD)者分别占41.2％(40/97)、39.2％ (38/97)、19.6％(19/97).非特异性食管动力异常者中蠕动异常、蠕动缺失、测压正常、远端食管痉挛者分别占39.5％ (15/38)、36.8％(14/38)、15.8％(6/38)、7.9％(3/38).贲门失弛缓症组、GERD组、非特异性食管动力异常组、健康对照组间比较,LESL、LESP、LESRR、食管体部下段压力、有效蠕动比例差异均有统计学意义(F=6.143、57.490、50.559、10.155、22.046,P均＜0.05).贲门失弛缓症组的LESP大于健康对照组,LESRR、食管体部下段压力、有效蠕动比例则均小于健康对照组,差异均有统计学意义(F=2.276、-11.113、-8.036、-14.663,P均＜0.05).贲门失弛缓症组的LESL和LESP均大于GERD组,LESRR、食管体部下段压力、有效蠕动比例则均小于GERD组,差异均有统计学意义(F=4.325、15.983、-19.235、-3.410、-4.351,P均＜0.05).贲门失弛缓症组的LESL和LESP均大于非特异性食管动力异常组,LESRR和有效蠕动比例则均小于GERD组,差异均有统计学意义(F=2.376、7.668、-2.873、-3.873,P均＜0.05).GERD组的LESRR大于健康对照组,LESL、LESP、食管体部下段压力、有效蠕动比例则均小于健康对照组,差异均有统计学意义(F=5.931、-2.483、-14.618、-3.071、4.516,P均＜0.05).GERD组的LESL和LESP均小于非特异性食管动力异常组,LESRR则大于非特异性食管动力异常组,差异均有统计学意义(F=-2.113、-6.578、10.979,P均＜0.05).非特异性食管动力异常组的LESP、LESRR、食管体部下段压力、有效蠕动比例均小于健康对照组,差异均有统计学意义(F=-6.313、-3.580、-3.511、8.150,P均＜0.05).所有40例贲门失弛缓症患者的IRP均高于正常范围.结论 NOD的疾病分布主要为贲门失弛缓症、非特异性食管动力异常和GERD.食管体部有效蠕动减少可能是NOD的重要病理生理机制.     

无效食管动力在胃食管反流病中作用的探讨

目的探讨无效食管动力(IEM)在胃食管反流病(GERD)发病中的作用。方法选取2014年7月至2016年2月在上海同济大学附属东方医院就诊的GERD患者,所有患者均接受高分辨率(HRM)食管测压和24h动态pH监测,排除食管-胃连接处(EGJ)压力和(或)形态异常的情况,共纳入49例GERD患者。根据HRM测压下食管远端收缩积分(DCI)将GERD患者分为IEM组、异常动力组和正常动力组。比较各组间食管动力及反流情况。结果 49例GERD患者中,IEM组19例,异常动力组15例,正常动力组15例。IEM组中反流性食管炎所占比例显著高于异常动力组和正常动力组(P0.05),正常动力组与异常动力组相比较差异无统计学意义。IEM组平均吞咽DCI显著低于异常动力组及正常动力组(P0.01),异常动力组显著低于正常动力组(P0.01)。IEM组食管体部蠕动中断长度相较于异常动力组及正常动力组显著延长(P0.01),异常动力组较正常动力组显著延长(P0.01)。各组间酸反流次数、弱酸反流次数、非酸反流次数和总反流次数比较差异无统计学意义。IEM组DeMeester得分及合计酸反流时间较异常动力组及正常动力组显著增加,差异有统计学意义(P0.05),异常动力组及正常动力组DeMeester得分及合计酸反流时间比较差异无统计学意义。49例GERD患者中,平均吞咽DCI与食管蠕动中断长度呈负相关(P0.01),平均吞咽DCI与合计酸反流时间呈负相关(P0.01)。结论 GERD患者中食管动力障碍与酸反流相关,食管体部收缩力度减弱,蠕动中断延长,与酸反流严重程度相关。IEM患者食管收缩力度较弱,酸反流时间较长,更易导致食管炎发生。     

不同年龄健康志愿者与胃食管反流病患者食管动力的差异

目的 探讨不同年龄健康志愿者与胃食管反流病患者食管动力的差异.方法 选取健康志愿者83名,年龄23～76岁;具有典型反流、烧心症状的胃食管反流病(GERD)患者300例,年龄18～76岁.对两组受试者进行常规食管测压并对结果进行比较.结果 51～64岁健康志愿者食管下括约肌压力(LESP)为(19.26±8.62)mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa),明显高于≤40和≥65岁健康志愿者[(15.34±5.33)mm Hg和(13.00±4.99)mm Hg,P＜0.051].各年龄组GERD患者问LESP及LESP降低率差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).健康志愿者和GERD患者食管体部各段蠕动波传导速度均随年龄增长而下降(r=-0.338、P=0.002和r=-0.138、P=0.017).51～64岁和≥65岁组GERD患者湿咽成功率为56.31%±38.42%和53.33%±39.22%;均显著低于≤40岁组患者(70.80%±35.18%,P＜0.05);Pearson相关分析显示GERD患者湿咽成功率随年龄增长而下降(r=-0.144;P=0.012);而各年龄组健康志愿者间湿咽成功率差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).健康志愿者和GERD患者各年龄段食管体部近、中或远段波幅差异均无统计学意义(P值均＞0.05);各年龄段GERD患者食管体部运动功能障碍发生率差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 随年龄增长,健康志愿者及GERD患者食管蠕动波传导速度减慢,GERD患者湿咽成功率降低.     

食管体部动力异常在胃食管反流病中的作用

背景:食管酸暴露增加在胃食管反流病(GERD)的发病中起重要作用。食管体部蠕动不完全或缺乏可造成食管清除功能障碍。目的:评估食管体部动力异常,包括非特异性食管动力紊乱(NEMD)和无效食管收缩(IEM)在GERD患者中的发生率,以及NEMD和IEM与胃食管酸反流和内镜下食管炎的关系,以探讨它们在GERD中的作用。方法:对116例GERD患者行标准食管测压和24h食管pH监测,其中75例患者行内镜检查。结果:98例(84.5%)GERD患者存在食管体部动力异常,其中77例为NEMD,NEMD中8例符合IEM的诊断标准。合并NEMD或IEM的GERD患者的pH<4总时间百分比显著高于食管动力正常患者(8.0%±9.3%和15.7%±13.5%对3.0%±4.7%,P<0.05);立位和卧位pH<4时间百分比亦显著高于食管动力正常患者(立位:8.8%±11.1%和17.4%±21.0%对3.6%±4.1%,P<0.01;卧位:7.0%±10.4%和16.1%±12.2%对2.3%±6.7%,P<0.05)。合并IEM的GERD患者总食管酸清除(EAC)时间和立位EAC时间较食管动力正常患者显著延长(总EAC时间:1.89min/反流±1.82min/反流对0.66min/反流±0.58min/反流,P<0.05;立位EAC时间:1.96min/反流±1.96min/反流对0.59min/反流±0.48min/反流,P<0.05)。75例行内镜检查的GERD患者中,合并NEMD和IEM的患者与食管动力正常患者的内镜下食管炎发生率无显著差异     

无效食管动力对伴呼吸道症状胃食管反流病发病机制及临床意义的研究

目的 观察伴有呼吸道症状的胃食管反流病(GERD)患者食管动力异常的类型及发生率,探讨无效食管动力(IEM)在其发病机制中的作用及临床意义.方法 应用多功能胃肠动力仪对首都医科大学附属北京朝阳医院2005年1月至2007年1月收治的34例伴有哮喘、慢性咳嗽和咽喉部不适等呼吸道症状的GERD患者进行食管压力测定及24h食管动态pH监测,测定下食管括约肌(LES)压力、食管体部蠕动波幅、蠕动时限及蠕动速度,计算pH＜4的时间百分比,卧位及立位pH＜4的时间百分比,平均食管酸清除时间(pH＜4的时间/酸反流次数),算出DeMeester评分.结果 伴有呼吸道症状GERD组LES压力及食管近端、远端蠕动波幅与典型反流症状GERD组及正常对照组比差异无统计学意义;伴有呼吸道症状CERD组的食管动力异常类型主要表现为IEM,IEM发生率为41.2%,明显高于典型反流症状GERD组(18.5%)及正常对照组(0);在伴有呼吸道症状GERD患者中,存在IEM组患者食管pH＜4的总时间百分比及立、卧位食管pH＜4的时间百分比均明显高于食管动力正常组;IEM组患者卧位食管酸清除时间(pH＜4的时间/酸反流次数)较食管动力正常组明显延长.结论 在伴有呼吸道症状GERD患者中,IEM是其最常见的动力异常类型;IEM与食管内酸暴露总时间及立、卧位时间,卧位食管酸清除时间均密切相关,因此,IEM在伴有呼吸道症状GERD患者的发病机制中起重要作用.     

功能性消化不良患者血清一氧化氮含量与食管动力变化特征研究

目的　探讨一氧化氮 (NO)在功能性消化不良 (FD)患者食管动力变化中的作用。方法　 5 8例FD患者和 19名健康受试者纳入本研究 ,应用PCPolygraphHR动力监测系统测定FD患者食管压力 ;应用硝酸还原酶法测定血清NO含量。结果　FD患者食管下段平均蠕动波幅显著低于对照组 (7 12± 1.35kPavs 13.2 6± 2 .36kPa ,P <0 .0 1) ,而双峰波的病理性蠕动发生率则显著高于正常对照组 (48.3%vs 10 .5 % ,P <0 .0 1)。FD组血清NO含量显著高于对照组 (99.7± 17.5 μmoL/Lvs 72 .4± 15 .2 3μmoL/L ,P <0 .0 1)。结论　功能性消化不良患者存在食管运动功能异常 ,NO可能参与FD消化道动力功能障碍的发病机制     

肝硬化食管静脉曲张的食管动力初探

为进一步研究曲张静脉及硬化/套扎治疗对食管功能的影响,对19例肝硬化食管静脉曲张患者行食管测压研究。结果示:1.食管静脉曲张组LES静息压为2.87±0.83kPa,对照组为2.49±0.63kPa,两组无差异(P>0.05)。轻度与中重度曲张组、未治疗组与硬化/套扎治疗组的LES压力无差异。2.食管体部的蠕动:(1)静脉曲张组与正常组比较,前者食管下段蠕动波幅(PA)减低,蠕动时间(PD)延长,蠕动传导速度(PV)减慢(P<0.05)。(2)中重度曲张组与轻度曲张组比较,其PA减低,PD延长(P>0.05)。(3)6例硬化/套扎治疗组与非治疗组比较无显著差异,可能与例数少有关。肝硬化食管静脉曲张的食管动力改变主要表现为食管下段的蠕动波幅减低,蠕动传导时间延长,传导速度降低,且与曲张程度有一定关系。其原因可能系曲张静脉本身直接的机械作用听致,硬化治疗可引起食管下段功能障碍,故有必要对EVS患者使用促动力药。     

pH监测正常与异常的非糜烂性反流病患者高分辨率食管测压特征分析

目的应用高分辨率食管测压比较pH监测正常与异常非糜烂性反流病(NERD)患者的食管动力学特征。方法按标准选取具有典型胃食管反流症状的NERD患者35例和健康体检者10例,分别行上消化道内镜检查、24 h食管pH监测和高分辨率食管测压。依据动态pH监测Demeester评分将NERD患者分为pH监测异常组和pH监测正常组,比较3组患者食管动力的差异。结果 pH监测异常组食管下括约肌(LES)长度较对照组显著缩短(P<0.05),LES压力(LESP)显著降低(P<0.05),pH监测正常组与对照组比较则无明显差异。pH监测正常组和异常组均存在食管体部动力障碍,表现为食管远端收缩波波幅及远端收缩积分降低和有效蠕动比例减少,pH监测异常组改变更为明显。结论 pH监测不同NERD患者间存在食管动力特征差异,pH监测异常NERD组患者存在LES长度和压力异常,食管远端动力障碍更为明显。     

经口内镜下肌切开术对贲门失弛缓症患者食管动力的影响

目的探讨经口内镜下肌切开术(peroral endoscopic myotomy,POEM)初次治疗对贲门失弛缓症(achalasia,AC)患者术后食管动力的影响。方法纳入2012年1月至2016年6月期间于首都医科大学附属北京友谊医院就诊并行POEM治疗的AC患者,按研究设计完成各项检查、POEM治疗及随访观察,比较各型AC患者的POEM治疗成功率以及POEM治疗前后食管动力的改变。结果POEM术后6个月随访时,Ⅰ型AC患者的症状缓解率为100.0%(13/13),Ⅱ型为95.5%(42/44),Ⅲ型为90.1%(10/11)。与术前比较,术后1~6个月内下食管括约肌静息压[10.5(6.9,15.8)mmHg比24.6(18.3,35.1)mmHg,1 mmHg=0.133 kPa]、4 s整合松弛压[6.0(3.7,8.8)mmHg比21.8(15.3,28.0)mmHg]、上食管括约肌静息压[43.4(33.7,57.3)mmHg比45.3(33.2,71.1)mmHg]、上食管括约肌残余压[1.5(0.0,4.6)mmHg比3.9(1.1,6.9)mmHg]均明显改善(P均<0.05)。术后6个月,食管腔扩张的最宽直径较术前明显减小[(3.0±0.7)cm比(3.9±1.1)cm,P<0.001],总Eckardt评分较术前明显降低[1(0,2)分比6(5,8)分,P<0.001]。POEM术后,Ⅰ型AC患者食管体部均未出现蠕动恢复,Ⅱ型AC患者中有4例(9.1%,4/44)较术前恢复弱蠕动或期前收缩,Ⅲ型AC患者中10例(90.9%,10/11)较术前出现正常蠕动波、期前收缩或弱蠕动的比例增加。结论POEM术后不仅食管胃交界部流出道梗阻得到改善,而且食管体部动力也一定程度上发生改变,其中部分患者体部动力有一定恢复;但是这种变化在3个AC亚型表现不同,Ⅲ型最明显,其次是Ⅱ型,Ⅰ型则无明显改变。     

Manometric assessment of esophageal motility in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the esophageal motility by manometry in patients with primary Sjögrens syndrome.Methods Esophageal manometry was carried out in 40 patients with primary Sjögrens syndrome (SS), 15 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 15 with RA and secondary SS, and 21 healthy volunteers.Results We found that the mean lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressures measured by station pull-through and rapid pull-through techniques were significantly higher in primary SS patients than with healthy controls and RA patients with or without SS (P<0.05). Our study did not show any major differences when comparing the three patient groups (P>0.05). However, peristaltic contraction velocity was lower and peristaltic contraction duration significantly higher at the middle and lower thirds of the esophagus in primary SS patients than in healthy controls (P<0.05).Conclusion The results of our study support the view that various esophageal motility disorders can be found in patients with primary SS which could be related to an increase in LES pressure. We also found no correlation of the esophageal abnormalities with other factors studied, suggesting that the cause of dysphagia is multifactorial in nature.     

Epidermal IgG deposits in patients with chronic inflammatory connective tissue diseases: diagnostic value and correlation to clinical and immunological parameters in patients with primary Sj?gren's syndrome

Thirty-seven patients with primary Sj?gren's syndrome (Primary SS), 12 patients with incipient primary SS, 100 patients with other chronic inflammatory connective tissue diseases (CTD) and 20 healthy controls had a punch biopsy taken from clinically unaffected skin from the buttock. Direct immunofluorescence examinations revealed intraepidermal IgG deposits in 68% of patients with primary SS, in 42% of patients with incipient primary SS, in 13% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA, n = 31), in 15% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, n = 13), in 24% of patients with other well-defined CTD (n = 41), in 40% of patients with ill-defined CTD (n = 15) and in 10% of healthy controls. Immunoglobulin deposits along the dermoepidermal junction zone (DEJ) were not found in any of the patients with primary SS, but were present in 16% of the patients with RA and in 23% of the patients with SLE. In the patients with primary SS, no correlation was found between intraepidermal IgG deposits and age, disease duration, extraglandular manifestations, P-IgG concentration, ANA, rheumatoid factors or circulating immune complexes. Examination for intraepidermal IgG deposits seems valuable in the differential diagnosis between primary SS and RA or SLE, and it could supplement the lupus band test.     

Pharyngo-esophageal motility disturbances in patients with myotonic dystrophy.

BACKGROUND: Esophageal motility is often disturbed in patients with myotonic dystrophy. The esophageal motor derangement pattern and its correlation with esophageal and peripheral motor symptoms is not well defined. Our aims were to evaluate: 1) pharyngo-esophageal motor abnormalities in these patients; 2) the relationship between motor involvement and clinical manifestations; and 3) the correlation between pharyngo-esophageal motility abnormalities and peripheral neuromuscular involvement. METHODS: We compared data from 18 patients and 18 healthy controls. Neuromuscular affectation was quantified with a five-point muscular disability rating scale. Pharyngo-esophageal symptoms were assessed with a directed questionnaire, whereas motility was evaluated by means of manometry. RESULTS: Myotonic dystrophy patients had diminished pharyngeal contraction amplitude, upper esophageal sphincter basal pressure, and esophageal body contraction amplitude compared with the control group (P < 0.001). No signs of esophageal myotony were evident. Simultaneous esophageal waves after more than 40% of liquid swallows were found in 80% of patients. No relationship between esophageal manometric alteration and esophageal or peripheral motility symptoms was elicited. CONCLUSION: In patients with myotonic dystrophy pharyngo-esophageal motility is severely deranged in both amplitude and coordination. These abnormalities may be present even if symptoms referred by the patient or the severity of the disease is not remarkable.     

Autoantibodies against alpha-fodrin in Sjögren's syndrome with neurological manifestations

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic value of autoantibodies against alpha-fodrin in patients with Sj?gren's syndrome (SS) with neurological manifestations compared to SS patients without neurological manifestations, a control group, and patients with other neurological autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with neurological manifestations and multiple sclerosis (MS). METHODS: We evaluated alpha-fodrin autoantibodies in 31 patients with SS with neurological manifestations, 53 SS patients without neurological symptoms, 38 patients with SLE, 60 with MS, and 160 controls. RESULTS: Twenty of the 31 SS patients with neurological manifestations (64.5%) had an increased concentration of IgA and/or IgG anti-alpha-fodrin. This was not statistically different from that of SS patients without neurological symptoms (73.6%), but was higher than the number with SSA/SSB antibodies, which were found in 15 (48%) of our SS patients without neurological manifestations. When the results of the 2 tests were combined, 28 of the 31 (90.3%) patients had positive autoantibodies (alpha-fodrin and/or SSA/SSB). Alpha-fodrin antibodies were increased in 8 (13.3%) of the 60 patients with MS, in 6 (15.7%) of 38 patients with SLE, and in 10 (6.3%) of 160 controls. CONCLUSION: Our results confirm that alpha-fodrin antibodies are an additional diagnostic tool for SS. This test is of particular interest for patients with SS with neurological manifestations, in whom anti SSA/SSB antibodies are less frequently found.     

Pharyngo-Esophageal Motility Disturbances in Patients with Myotonic Dystrophy

Background: Esophageal motility is often disturbed in patients with myotonic dystrophy. The esophageal motor derangement pattern and its correlation with esophageal and peripheral motor symptoms is not well defined. Our aims were to evaluate: 1) pharyngo-esophageal motor abnormalities in these patients; 2) the relationship between motor involvement and clinical manifestations; and 3) the correlation between pharyngo-esophageal motility abnormalities and peripheral neuromuscular involvement. Methods: We compared data from 18 patients and 18 healthy controls. Neuromuscular affectation was quantified with a five-point muscular disability rating scale. Pharyngo-esophageal symptoms were assessed with a directed questionnaire, whereas motility was evaluated by means of manometry. Results: Myotonic dystrophy patients had diminished pharyngeal contraction amplitude, upper esophageal sphincter basal pressure, and esophageal body contraction amplitude compared with the control group (P &lt; 0.001). No signs of esophageal myotony were evident. Simultaneous esophageal waves after more than 40% of liquid swallows were found in 80% of patients. No relationship between esophageal manometric alteration and esophageal or peripheral motility symptoms was elicited. Conclusion: In patients with myotonic dystrophy pharyngo-esophageal motility is severely deranged in both amplitude and coordination. These abnormalities may be present even if symptoms referred by the patient or the severity of the disease is not remarkable.     

Esophageal Function and Sjögren's Syndrome

The frequency and characteristics of esophageal dysmotility in Sjögren's syndrome (SS) are as controversial as their related symptoms. We evaluated esophageal function and gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in 21 SS patients using manometry and 24-hr esophageal pH monitoring. All patients complained of xerostomia, 33% of dysphagia, and 62% of heartburn. Compared to controls, the mean percentage abdominal length of their lower esophageal sphincters (LES) and resting LES pressures were significantly lower, with no difference in primary esophageal peristalsis. Tertiary waves without swallowing were detected in 29% of them and pathological GER in 67%. Symptoms, esophageal motor abnormalities, and reflux features were similar in primary and secondary SS. ANOVA indicated that dysphagia was unrelated to the esophageal impairments and GER analysis results, while heartburn was significantly associated with GER severity. Esophageal acid-exposure time was significantly longer in SS patients with distal tertiary waves, while proximal esophagus wave velocity was significantly lower. While SS patients have nonspecific esophageal motility disorders and frequently GER disease, early and accurate diagnosis of GER is essential to identify SS patients at risk for acidic reflux, especially because the acid-clearance capacity of the esophagus is already diminished by the lack of saliva.     

Nonobstructive Dysphagia in Reflux Esophagitis

Dysphagia in the absence of organic esophageal stricture may occur in patients with reflux esophagitis. Although the exact mechanism of this "nonobstructive dysphagia" (NOD) is not known, it is believed to be related to transient segmental esophageal motor disorder. The goals of this study were to determine the frequency of NOD in patients with reflux esophagitis and correlate it with esophageal pH and motility changes. Sixty-three consecutive patients with symptoms of esophageal dysfunction were studied with endoscopy, infusion esophageal manometry, and 24-h ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring. Forty-seven had severe erosive esophagitis unresponsive to medical therapy; 16 with esophageal motility disorders were used as symptomatic controls. Twenty-eight of 63 patients studied experienced NOD during the 24-h pH study; 22 had esophagitis and six had esophageal dysmotility without esophagitis. NOD was noted with similar frequency in the two groups; 22/47 (46.8%) of patients with esophagitis and 6/16 (37.5%) with esophageal dysmotility experienced NOD during the period of study. NOD correlated with pH less than 4.0 in 88.6% of patients with esophagitis but in only 7% of patients with esophageal dysmotility (p less than 0.001). There was no difference in acid reflux patterns in esophagitis patients who experienced NOD (22/47), and in those who did not (25/47). There was no correlation between NOD and baseline esophageal motility abnormalities. In summary, 1) NOD is a common, intermittent symptom that occurred in up to 46.8% of esophagitis patients and 37.5% of symptomatic controls during the 24-h period of this study; 2) NOD correlates with esophageal pH less than 4.0 in patients with esophagitis and not in patients with esophageal dysmotility. These data strongly suggest that acid in the distal esophagus frequently triggers the sensation of dysphagia in esophagitis patients, but not in patients with esophageal motility disorders. Combined ambulatory intraesophageal motility and pH monitoring may further elucidate the mechanism of dysphagia in these patients.     

Manometric assessment of impaired esophageal motor function in primary Sjögren's syndrome

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate by manometry the esophageal motility changes in patients with primary Sj?gren's syndrome (SS). METHODS: Esophageal manometry was carried out in 25 (F/M: 22/3) primary SS patients with systemic manifestations and in 42 control subjects. The primary SS patients also completed a dysphagia scoring questionnaire and underwent whole salivary flow measurements. RESULTS: As compared with the controls the primary SS patients exhibited a decreased lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure (P < 0.01) and a prolongation of LES relaxations (P < 0.02). In the esophageal body (EB) a decreased peristaltic velocity (p < 0.01), an increased duration of contractions (p < 0.01) and a higher occurrence of simultaneous waves (p < 0.01) were detected. Since decreased peristaltic velocity was the most frequent motor abnormality (11/25 cases), two groups of patients were formed for further analysis: patients with a decreased (group I, n = 11) and patients with a normal (group II, n = 14) peristaltic velocity. The SS patients with a decreased EB propagation velocity (< or = 2.7 cm/s, group I) displayed more significantly decreased pressures (p < 0.01) and more prolonged relaxation times (p < 0.05) in the LES, with higher rates of simultaneous contractions on dry swallows (p = 0.05) in the EB, as compared with those who had a normal peristaltic velocity (group II). Of the clinical parameters, the decreased EB peristaltic velocity was associated with a smaller whole saliva production both in the basal state and after stimulation. Furthermore, this group of patients had a significantly higher liquid requirement for swallowing than those who had normal peristaltic velocities (p = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Primary SS patients with systemic manifestations exhibit several esophageal motility abnormalities. In this study, a decreased EB peristaltic velocity was the most common manometric change, and showed an association with impaired saliva production and higher liquid requirement for swallowing, but not with the laboratory parameters or with the systemic manifestations of the disease.     

Salivary gland echography in primary and secondary Sj?gren's syndrome.

A series of different ultrasonographic abnormalities detected by salivary gland echography (SGE) were investigated for their discriminant power for Sj?gren's syndrome (SS) in 53 patients with either primary SS (n = 27) or secondary SS (n = 26), as well as in 90 controls. Among the controls, 26 suffered from dry mouth and/or recurrent or persistent swelling of at least one parotid or submandibular gland due to other selected disorders, while 64 were healthy, asymptomatic subjects. Mild, evident or gross inhomogeneous parenchymal patterns were the only variables selected by stepwise discriminant analysis, when comparing patients to controls. However, a mild submandibular inhomogeneity did not prove useful for such a discrimination. Based on these data, a simplified evaluation and standardised quantification of salivary involvement, as detected by SGE, is proposed using an echographic score (range 0 to 6) which assigns points to the different degrees of glandular inhomogeneity. Score values above 0 showed a sensitivity of 88.8% in primary SS and of 53.8% in secondary SS, as well as a specificity of 84.6% and of 92.2% with respect to either symptomatic or healthy controls. The lower sensitivity of SGE for patients with secondary SS presumably was a result of their milder salivary involvement.     

Cardiac manifestations in primary Sj?gren's syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To determine cardiac manifestations in primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS). METHODS: Echocardiographic examination was undertaken in 64 patients (62 women, two men) with primary SS (54 definite (DSS) and 10 probable (PSS)) who had systemic symptoms. Twenty one healthy women volunteers of similar age acted as controls. RESULTS: Acute exudative pericarditis occurred in only one patient. An echogenic pericardium was demonstrated in 21 patients (19 DSS, two PSS) (33%) who had a previous symptom free pericarditis, but in none of the controls. Pulmonary pressure was significantly greater in the patients than in the controls (31 (SD 8) mm Hg compared with 24 (7) mm Hg), but there was no significant difference between the DSS and PSS groups. Left ventricular (LV) systolic function was similar in patients and controls. Twenty two patients (20 DSS, two PSS) and one control subject were excluded from LV diastolic function evaluation because of conditions likely to influence the parameters. Of the remaining 42 patients with SS (34 DSS, eight PSS), 21 (17 DSS, four PSS) had impaired diastolic function, confirmed by several diastolic parameters. LV diastolic dysfunction and echogenic pericardium occurred independently of each other, and there was no correlation between the occurrence of these silent cardiac abnormalities and the clinical and laboratory findings. CONCLUSIONS: Obvious cardiac involvement is rare in primary SS, but clinically silent manifestations (symptom free pericarditis and LV diastolic dysfunction) are common. The clinical and prognostic significance of these changes cannot yet be defined.