Douleurs oropharyngées d’origine œsophagienne

Several esophageal disorders are potential causes of chest pain, the most frequent being gastro-esophageal reflux disease. Heartburn and angina-like pain called noncardiac chest pain are commonly observed in patients with reflux disease and can spread to the pharynx and orofacial region. Through its direct effects on dental structures and oropharyngeal mucosa, gastro-esophageal reflux disease may also contribute to the emergence of dentin hypersensitivity, oral burning sensation, chronic sore throat and odynophagia. This article is a review of recent literature on this topic and focuses on the neurophysiological and pathogenic mechanisms involved in these symptoms.     

以胸痛为主诉症状的反流性食管炎58例临床分析

胸痛是临床上常见的症状,引起胸痛的原因很多,多数为心源性因素所致。然而近年来有文献报道[1],中年以上患者反流性食管炎引起的胸痛约占62%,因缺乏典型返酸、烧心、恶心等消化道症状,胸痛发作时酷似心绞痛,特别是用硝酸甘油可缓解,极易误诊为冠心病。本文回顾我院2002年1月至2     

Gastroesophageal reflux disease as a cause of chest pain

Patients with recurrent chest pain free of significant coronary artery disease account for 10% to 30% of patients undergoing coronary angiography. Recent studies suggest that gastroesophageal reflux disease may be very common in these patients. The cause of this chest pain seems to be related primarily to an acid-sensitive mucosa regardless of the presence of esophagitis. Unfortunately, a careful history will not distinguish chest pain arising from a cardiac versus an esophageal source. Therefore, all patients must undergo a thorough cardiac evaluation before assuming that acid reflux is the cause of their complaints. Initial gastroenterology evaluation will usually include upper GI endoscopy or barium studies, possibly with acid perfusion (Bernstein) testing, or both. However, the more sensitive and specific test for acid-related disease is prolonged esophageal pH monitoring. This study quantifies the amount of acid reflux but, more importantly, identifies the relationship between chest pain and acid reflux episodes. Patients should be studied in the outpatient setting with emphasis placed on performing activities that replicate their chest pain. Although we presume that acid-induced chest pain responds as well as heartburn to vigorous antireflux regimens, there are few studies to address this issue. Nevertheless, I have had great success in treating these patients with either high-dose H2 blockers or omeprazole therapy.     

Remission of angina pectoris and dyspnea by fundoplication in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

This study investigates 113 consecutive patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease before and after fundoplication and crural repair with respect to symptomatic improvement of chest pain, angina pectoris, exercise-linked chest pain, meal-linked chest pain, dyspnea, and air hunger, and any correlation between these items and smoking habits. The patients were followed by identical questionnaires completed at the time of oesophageal manometric examination prior to operation and from 6 months up to more than 5 years after operation. There was a highly significant reduction in all kinds of chest pain including angina pectoris, and of dyspnea at follow-up independent of smoking habits. However, air hunger was not significantly reduced. The present results suggest that gastro-oesophageal reflux disease should be taken into consideration in the symptomatic diagnosis of angina pectoris.     

以食管外表现为主的老年胃食管反流病15例误诊分析

目的 探讨老年胃食管反流病(gastroesophageal reflux disease,GERD)误诊原因,以减少误诊误治.方法 对我院2009年1月～2011年6月收治176例老年GERD中15例误诊病例资料进行回顾性分析.结果 本组均无明显反酸、胃灼热症状,咳嗽、咽痒、咽部异物感9例,胸痛、胸闷4例,呼吸困难2例.本组误诊率8.5％ (15/176),误诊为慢性支气管炎6例、冠心病心绞痛4例、慢性咽炎3例、哮喘2例,误诊时间20 d～13个月.后结合症状及电子胃镜检查诊断为GERD,予奥美拉唑、多潘立酮等治疗,症状均明显改善.结论 应重视老年GERD患者的食管外表现,对表现为胸痛、吞咽困难、咽喉痛、牙龈炎、气管炎、哮喘、夜间呛咳老年患者在按照专科疾病治疗效果不佳时,应考虑GERD,尽早行胃镜及相关检查确诊.     

Noncardiac chest pain. There's often an esophageal cause

Noncardiac chest pain remains an enigma that often defies precise diagnosis. Overlap of symptoms between esophageal and cardiac disorders may make differentiation extremely difficult. Exclusion of coronary artery disease is a key element of the management of noncardiac chest pain. Once this is accomplished, the physician can address the fears and concerns of the patient with confidence and often avoid any diagnostic studies of the esophagus. When diagnostic studies are performed, the physician should be mindful of their limitations. Since gastroesophageal reflux disease is probably the most common cause of esophageal chest pain, prompt recognition and treatment of this disorder may provide relief for many patients. Future studies should address the relationship between physiologic events in the esophagus and chest pain.     

Evaluation of noncardiac chest pain: diagnostic approach, coping strategies and quality of life.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 30% of coronary angiograms are negative for significant coronary artery disease and patients are classified as having noncardiac chest pain (NCCP). So far, no systematic diagnostic approach to patients with NCCP investigating for possible esophageal, psychiatric and musculoskeletal abnormalities exists. Furthermore, coping strategies and quality of life are poorly characterized in NCCP patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: A simple diagnostic approach was applied to 37 consecutive patients (21 female, age 61+/-12 years) with angina-like chest pain and normal coronary angiograms. Twenty-one patients were found to suffer from psychiatric disorders (combined anxiety (A) and depression (D): n = 10, D: n = 5, panic disorder (P): n = 3, somatization (S): n = 3) based on their Symptom Check List 90 scores and according to DSM IV-R criteria. Sixteen patients had an improvement of their chest pain after oral esomeprazole (40 mg for 7 days) and were therefore diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Musculoskeletal abnormalities including chostochondritis (n = 4), thoracic spondylodynia (n = 1), and fibromyalgia (n = 1) were found in six patients. Multiple diagnoses were confirmed in six patients with GERD (additional D n = 3, additional musculoskeletal disorders n = 3). Patients with psychiatric disorders showed a diminished quality of life (MOS-SF 36), more frequent chest pain, less treatment satisfaction (Seattle Angina Questionnaire) and more rumination (Trier Coping Scales) compared to GERD patients. CONCLUSIONS: Immediate combined psychiatric and orthopedic evaluation as well as esomeprazole administration following exclusion of coronary artery disease may confirm the causes of noncardiac chest pain. Identification of psychiatric disorders seems especially warranted since these patients experience a reduced quality of life and exhibit pathologic coping strategies.     

Psychological responses to episodic chest pain

Patients with chronic musculo-skeletal pain have been profiled as "dysfunctional", "interpersonally distressed" or "adaptive copers". The relevance of these for episodic visceral pain is unknown. Our aim was to replicate conceptually the taxonomy in patients with episodic visceral pain. Patients with chest pain and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD; n=25), coronary artery (CAD; n=20), or with chest pain but without either reflux or coronary artery disease (non-cardiac chest pain--NCCP; n=23) were assessed using several standard affective and cognitive measures relevant to pain. Differences between the diagnostic groups were explored. K-means cluster analysis broadly replicated the three groups found in previous research but the "interpersonally distressed" group had few members. An additional cluster analysis suggested a more parsimonious solution for the sample was a two-cluster one, which approximated to the "adaptive coper" and "dysfunctional" profiles. Membership of both the three- and two-cluster profiles was not associated with membership of specific diagnostic category.     

Chest pain

The purpose of this article has been to review the multiple causes of chest pain. Because acute chest pain can be the only presenting symptom of a potentially life-threatening illness, it is important that the physician identify these patients rapidly and arrange appropriate hospital care. Likewise, it is also important that the physician recognize the less severe causes of chest pain so that the patient can be appropriately reassured in the office or sent for evaluation of the cause of this pain. Although nearly every patient with acute chest pain views this pain as an emergency, the majority of patients with this type of pain presenting to a physician's office can be evaluated and reassured using only basic office skills.     

Management of gastroesophageal reflux disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is the most common and expensive digestive disease with complex and multi-factorial pathophysiologic mechanisms. Transient inappropriate relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter is the predominant mechanism in the majority of patients with mild to moderate disease. Hiatal hernias and a reduced lower esophageal sphincter pressure have a significant role in patients with moderate to severe disease. Typical manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease include heartburn, regurgitation, and dysphagia. Atypical symptoms, such as noncardiac chest pain, pulmonary manifestations of asthma, cough, aspiration pneumonia, or ENT manifestations of globus and laryngitis, can be seen in patients with or without typical symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Endoscopy and ambulatory pH tests are best to evaluate the anatomic and physiologic impact ofgastroesophageal reflux disease. Complications of chronic gastroesophageal reflux disease include peptic strictures and Barrett metaplasia. Barrett esophagus is a major risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma, and upper endoscopy with surveillance biopsies is recommended for patients with Barrett esophagus. Medical therapy with anti-secretory agents (H2 blockers and proton pump inhibitors) is effective for most patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Surgical fundoplications and endoscopic treatment modalities are mechanical treatment options for patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease.     

Diagnosis and treatment of esophageal motility disorders

Apart from gastroesophageal reflux disease, achalasia, non-cardiac chest pain and functional dysphagia are the most important manifestations of disturbed esophageal motility. Achalasia is characterized by esophageal aperistalsis and impaired deglutitive relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter. The morphological correlate is a degeneration of nitrergic neurons in the myenteric plexus. Diagnosis is based on barium esophagram or esophageal manometry with the latter setting the gold standard. Endoscopic exclusion of a tumor at the gastroesophageal junction is mandatory. Appropriate therapeutic interventions are pneumatic dilatation or (laparoscopic myotomy) of lower esophageal sphincter. In patients unfit for these procedures endoscopic injection of botulinum toxin into the lower esophageal sphincter is appropriate. Non-cardiac chest pain may be of esophageal origin. Gastroesophageal reflux, spastic motility disorders and visceral hypersensitivity are arguable underlying mechanisms. The most important diagnostic procedure is 24 h esophageal pH metry correlating symptoms and reflux episodes. Proton pump inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants serving as visceral analgesics are appropriate therapeutic approaches. Functional dysphagia defines the sensation of impaired passage without mechanical obstruction or a neuromuscular disease with known pathology, e.g. scleroderma. Impaired transit is proven by esophageal scintigraphy or radiogram both using solid boluses. Manometry assesses the underlying mechanisms.     

Unexplained chest pain in relation to psychosocial factors and health-related quality of life in men and women.

BACKGROUND: Unexplained chest pain is a frequent and increasingly common complaint among patients admitted to Emergency Departments. Previous studies have defined unexplained chest pain as non-cardiac or non-coronary artery disease, i.e. patients with other organic causes explaining the chest pain could be included. To increase the knowledge of unexplained chest pain, this study only includes patients without any known explanation for their chest pain. AIM: To analyze gender differences regarding pain characteristics, psychosocial factors and health-related quality of life among patients diagnosed unexplained chest pain. METHODS AND RESULTS: The results are based on 179 patients (101 men, 78 women) between 16 and 69 years old (mean age 45.3) consecutively admitted to Emergency Department. Pain characteristics were assessed by Pain-O-Meter. Social relationships, depression, anxiety, and health-related quality of life were measured by a self-administered questionnaire. There were no gender differences regarding chest pain intensity; however women described their pain as burning (p<0.01) and frightening (p<0.03) more often than men. Men reported less depression (p<0.01) and less trait anxiety (p=0.01) than women. Chest pain intensity did not significantly impact health-related quality of life except physical functioning in men (p=0.05). CONCLUSION: Gender differences were few. Chest pain intensity did not significantly impact health-related quality of life.     

Chest pain in children. Tip-offs to cause

The primary care physician can often delineate the cause of chest pain in a patient under 21 years of age after a thoughtful, careful, and thorough history and physical examination. Occasionally, an ECG and a chest x-ray film may be helpful. Noncardiac causes for the chest pain should be explored, and if found, the child and the parents should be assured that the problem is not serious. Occasionally, psychotherapy may be indicated. A pediatric cardiologist should be consulted when a strong family history of coronary artery disease or a personal history of coronary risk factors is present or a murmur is detected that may not be innocent. The specialist also should evaluate children who have organic cardiac disease. Finally, although the primary care physician may strongly suspect that the chest pain has little or no significance, reassurance by a pediatric cardiologist is frequently helpful to the child and the family.     

反流性食管炎与非糜烂性胃食管反流的反流类型及其意义

目的探讨酸反流和胆汁反流在非糜烂性胃食管反流中的意义.方法具有典型的胸痛、反酸、反食等反流症状患者,同步进行24 h食管下段酸及胆汁反流监测,结合胃镜结果分为两组,反流性食管炎（RE）组21例,非糜烂性胃食管反流（NERD）组34例.结果 RE组混合反流发生率47.6%,酸反流发生率38.1%,胆汁反流发生率14.3%;NERD组混合反流发生率20.6%,酸反流发生率为50.0%,胆汁反流发生率29.4%.RE组混合反流发生率显著高于NERD组（P＜0.05）.结论 RE与NERD的反流类型存在一定的差异.NERD以酸反流为主,但也存在胆汁反流,单纯的胆汁反流不易引起食管炎发生,而混合反流则易致食管黏膜的损伤.     

Bernstein test

It is almost 50 years ago, when L.M. Bernstein and L.A. Baker wrote a paper on esophageal pain created by intra-luminal acid infusion. Their main purpose was to distinguish the chest pain due to esophagitis from cardiac pain. As former experiments had failed to show the direct roll of acid on chest pain, esophageal pain observed in esophagitis patients had been thought to be the result of esophageal wall extension. Bernstein showed that acid itself could cause chest pains in not only endoscopically positive esophagitis patients but also in pseudoesophagitis patients as Bernstein called. The simple and effective method he developed during his trial was called as Bernstein test with respect. Nowadays, more than half of the patients who suffer GERD symptoms are diagnosed as non-erosive reflux disease (NERD). Effective management of NERD is one of the most anticipated fields in the clinical upper GI treatment, and for that purpose, selecting the group of patients who are sensitive to acid is especially important. In this paper, I will describe about this Bernstein's "old but up-to-date" original paper in detail and consider its present-day interpretation. It has become obvious recently that acid is not the only cause of the esophageal pain of NERD patients. But, the importance of acid in NERD is still not small. Both as the theoretical basis of acid induced esophageal pain and as clinical method of measuring acid sensitivity in esophagus, Bernstein test should be recalled frequently and improved further.     

Evaluation of the patient with chronic cough

Initial evaluation of the patient with chronic cough (i.e., of more than eight weeks' duration) should include a focused history and physical examination, and in most patients, chest radiography. Patients who are taking an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor should switch to a medication from another drug class. The most common causes of chronic cough in adults are upper airway cough syndrome, asthma, and gastroesophageal reflux disease, alone or in combination. If upper airway cough syndrome is suspected, a trial of a decongestant and a first-generation antihistamine is warranted. The diagnosis of asthma should be confirmed based on clinical response to empiric therapy with inhaled bronchodilators or corticosteroids. Empiric treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease should be initiated in lieu of testing for patients with chronic cough and reflux symptoms. Patients should avoid exposure to cough-evoking irritants, such as cigarette smoke. Further testing, such as high-resolution computed tomography, and referral to a pulmonologist may be indicated if the cause of chronic cough is not identified. In children, a cough lasting longer than four weeks is considered chronic. The most common causes in children are respiratory tract infections, asthma, and gastroesophageal reflux disease. Evaluation of children with chronic cough should include chest radiography and spirometry.     

Esophageal chest pain

Recurrent chest pain frequently results in significant disability and anxiety, even after cardiac disease has been excluded. A stepwise approach is recommended for the diagnosis of pulmonary conditions, musculoskeletal disorders and structural problems of the upper gastrointestinal tract that can produce chest pain. If a search for these disorders proves negative, an esophageal source of chest pain should be strongly suspected. Although gastroesophageal reflux disease is the most common and easily treated cause of esophageal chest pain, esophageal motility disorders should also be considered. Motility disorders include achalasia, diffuse esophageal spasm, nutcracker esophagus, hypertensive lower esophageal sphincter and nonspecific motility disorders.     

Herniated cervical disk presenting as ischemic chest pain

Myocardial ischemia must be the first concern of every emergency physician in evaluating chest pain in the adult patient. Any suspicion of myocardial ischemia must be promptly evaluated and admitted. The American College of Emergency Physicians has recently published a standards document on the care of chest pain in the adult patient. The emergency physician must be familiar with this document. Once myocardial ischemia and other life-threatening causes are ruled out, one can consider that cervical disk disease may be the cause of chest pain. We present two cases of patients who presented to the emergency department with signs and symptoms consistent with cardiac ischemia. Both patients were found to have herniated cervical disks. Subsequent surgical repair completely relieved their symptoms. Evaluation of the literature shows that this entity was well described from 1950 to the 1960s. Most recent discussions do not mention disk herniation as even an infrequent cause of chest pain. If there is no life-threatening disease present, one should consider cervical disk disease.     

Extraesophageal manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) may manifest as laryngitis, asthma, cough, or noncardiac chest pain. Diagnosing these extraesophageal manifestations may be difficult for primary care physicians because most patients do not have heartburn or regurgitation. Diagnostic tests have low specificity, and a cause-and-effect association between GERD and extraesophageal symptoms is difficult to establish. Response to aggressive acid suppression is often the best indication of GERD etiology in a patient with extraesophageal symptoms.     

Fibromyalgia: The gastrointestinal link

Patients with fibromyalgia (FM) frequently have gastrointestinal symptoms and signs. This article critically reviews the available literature and concludes the following: evidence that inflammatory bowel disease is associated with FM is contradictory, but should be looked for in patients taking concomitant steroids; patients diagnosed with celiac disease often have a history of FM or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) that may or may not be present; reflux, nonulcer dyspepsia, and noncardiac chest pain are common in FM patients; medications used to manage pain, inflammation, and gastrointestinal complaints confound the management of FM; and IBS affects smooth muscles and the parasympathetic nervous system, while FM patients have complaints of striated muscles and dysfunction of the sympathetic nervous system. Of those patients with FM, 30% to 70% have concurrent IBS. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth is associated with hyperalgesia and IBS-like complaints, is common in FM, and responds transiently to antimicrobial therapy.