BACKGROUND Some patients with achalasia have distal esophageal contraction amplitude in the normal range, a condition called vigorous achalasia, and others have low contraction amplitude, a condition named classic achalasia. The difference in distal contraction amplitude may also be associated with a difference in proximal contraction amplitude. AIM To study the proximal and distal esophageal...

The most important component of the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) is the cricopharyngeal muscle. During the measurement of sphincter pressure the catheter passed through the sphincter affects the pressure value. In Chagas' disease and primary achalasia there is an esophageal myenteric plexus denervation which may affect UES pressure. We measured the UES pressure of 115 patients with Chagas' ...

Achalasia is a rare esophageal motility disorder defined as impaired relaxation of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) and the absence of esophageal peristaltic contractions. High resolution manometry (HRM) is now the gold standard for the diagnosis of achalasia. Pandolfino et al. proposed classifying achalasia into three subtypes based on esophageal contraction patterns on HRM [1]. In the most ...

INTRODUCTION Data regarding the age impact on the clinical presentation and esophageal motility in adults with idiopathic achalasia are scarce. OBJECTIVE To asses the clinical and manometric features of elderly patients with idiopathic achalasia. METHODS The medical charts of 159 patients diagnosed with achalasia were divided into two groups according to the patients' age: ?60 years (n = 12...

Achalasia is characterized by incomplete lower esophageal sphincter (LES) relaxation and aperistalsis of the esophagus. It is manifested by regurgitation, dysphagia and weight loss. Treatment options include addition of pharmacotherapy, endoscopic dilatation, botulinum toxin injection (BTI) and surgical myotomy. The presence of esophageal varices makes endoscopic treatment difficult and therefo...

AIM To compare expression of Ca(2+)-regulating proteins in upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract of achalasia patients and healthy volunteers and to elucidate their role in achalasia. METHODS Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) ATPase (SERCA) isoforms 2a and 2b, phospholamban (PLB), calsequestrin (CSQ), and calreticulin (CRT) were assessed by quantitative Western blotting in esophagus and heart of rats...

Achalasia Cardia is a rare neurodegenerative disorder of esophagus resulting in defective peristalsis and impaired relaxation of lower esophageal sphincter. The exact etiopathogenesis of achalasia is not known. Achalasia is associated with significant morbidity and impaired quality of life. The standard of care in patients with achalasia has been pneumatic balloon dilatation and laparoscopic he...

Achalasia is a motility disorder of the esophagus, characterized by aperistalsis of the esophageal body and incomplete relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). Treatment of achalasia is currently aimed at decreasing the resting pressure in the LES. Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) is an emerging novel endoscopic procedure for the treatment of achalasia with initial data suggesting a...

a correlation stud on the subjective criteria versus lower esophageal sphincter pressure in idiopathic achalasia