Oesophageal motor function and outcome of treatment with H2-blockers in erosive oesophagitis

Abstract We studied the oesophageal motor function in 19 patients with reflux oesophagitis before and after 3–6 months of treatment with high-dose H₂-receptor antagonists to compare the results in healed vs unhealed patients. At the end of treatment, the frequency of transient lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) relaxations unassociated with a peristaltic sequence was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the healed group in fed conditions compared both with its baseline and with the unhealed one. The frequency of primary peristalsis was significantly increased (P < 0.01) particularly in the healed group (P < 0.05). On the other hand, failed peristalsis decreased significantly (P < 0.05) after treatment in the healed patients in fasting conditions. Our data suggest that oesophageal dysmotility observed in those patients who do not heal with high-dose H₂-receptor antagonists, may be due to either the persistence of the mucosal lesions or to the presence of a primary motor disorder, whereas in those who heal, these abnormalities may represent a consequence of the oesophageal mucosal lesions.