Esophageal body motility in achalasia and Chagas' disease

Previous studies have correlated esophageal body motility findings in idiopathic (IdAc) achalasia and achalasia secondary to Chagas' disease (ChAc) with degree of megaesophagus. The aim of this study was to compare esophageal body manometric data in patients with IdAc and achalasia secondary to Chagas' disease and correlate it with the degree of megaesophagus and symptom duration. One hundred nontreated patients with achalasia, 79% IdAc and 21% secondary to ChAc were compared with regards to age of presentation, duration of symptoms, amplitude and duration of simultaneous contractions, frequency of failed contractions, and degree of megaesophagus. Seventy‐one percent of patients were classified as nonadvanced megaesophagus (60 [76%] with IdAc and 11 [52%] with ChAc) and 29% as advanced megaesophagus (19 [24%] with IdAc and 10 [48%] with ChAc, P= 0.04). In IdAc but not in ChAc, the symptom duration was significantly longer in advanced megaesophagus (A) compared with nonadvanced megaesophagus (NA) (34.8 ± 6.3 months vs. 95.4 ± 22.2 months, P= 0.001). There was no difference in amplitude and duration of simultaneous contractions in both achalasia groups (P > 0.05). Duration of contractions were longer in IdAc compared with ChAc in (NA) (P < 0.05), but not in (A). In IdAc but not in ChAc the amplitude of simultaneous contractions decreased with increased esophageal dilatation (P < 0.05). In ChAc but not in IdAC, the duration of contractions increased with esophageal dilatation (P < 0.05). Failed contractions were more frequent in ChAc group (28.6%) than in IdAc (10% –P= 0.03). Patients with ChAc have a higher prevalence of advanced megaesophagus compared with IdAc at diagnosis. In IdAc there was a strong correlation between advanced megaesophagus and longer symptom duration, suggesting disease progression over time, not observed in ChAc in which a more extensive denervation occurs earlier in the disease process.