Oesophageal Motor Activity in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Clinical and Manometric Study

Abstract

Oesophageal motor function was clinically and manometrically investigated by means of a low-compliance system in 24 nonselected rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and 15 healthy controls. Dysphagia was referred by 37.5% of RA patients. Oesophageal motor abnormalities were discovered to be significantly present in a high percentage (62.5%) of patients with RA. However, there was no correlation between oesophageal motor abnormalities and any disease characteristic. It is concluded that a high percentage of RA patients have an oesophageal motor dysfunction, even in the absence of dysphagic symptoms.

Manometric investigation of the entire esophagus in healthy subjects and patients with high-amplitude peristaltic contractions

“…Since, to the best of our knowledge, UES presSure and function have never been evaluated in nutcracker esophagus, we used a previously deScribed technique [15,18] to obtain a UES profile in OUr last nine patients and found that their UES Pressure did not differ significantly from that of the controls. However, our sample may be too Small to draw conclusions.…”

“…Thereafter, the cathcter was positioned with its distal recording site 3 cm above the LES, and 10 or more wet swallows (with 5 ml water boluses) were administered every 30 s to assess peristaltic activity with the 4 proximal recording ports at 3, 8, 13, and 18 cm above the LES. Moreover, in 9 paticnts and 17 healthy subjects the station pull-through was continued in order to, also, evaluate the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) and to measure its resting pressure and rclaxations with the distal Ibur radial ports by a previously described technique [15,18].…”

Esophageal motor disorders in patients evaluated for dysphagia and/or noncardiac chest pain

“…Esophageal manometrics were carried out with standard techniques and equipment [13][14][15][16][17]. A commercially available eight-lumen round polyvinyl chloride (PVC) manometric catheter with the distal four side holes arranged radially at the same level at 90 degree angles, and the proximal holes each 5 cm apart (Arndorfer Medical Specialities, type ESM 3R), was used.…”

“…lntraluminal pressures were registered on a multichannel Beckman R-611 Dynograph Recorder, with a paper speed of 1 mm/s for the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and 2.5 mm/s for the esophageal body. At this perfusion rate, the system yields a pressure rise of more than 300 mmHg/s to distal occlusion of catheter tip [13][14][15][16]. Manometry was performed with the patient in the supine position.…”

Esophageai Achalasia: Still an Elusive Diagnosis

“…Esophageal motility was assessed with a previously described technique and instrumentation [10][11][12][13]. Briefly, an 8-lumcn stan dard manometric catheter (Arndorfer Medical Specialties, type ESM 3 R) with the distal four-side holes arranged radially at the same level at 90° angles and the proximal lour holes each 5 cm apart was used.…”