[Reflux disease and sphincter pressure]

Abstract

Between patients with reflux oesophagitis (n = 8), patients with symptoms of reflux without oesophagitis (n = 27) and controls (n = 17) recordings of lower oesophageal sphincter pressure have shown no significant differences of mean sphincter pressure but a significantly lower increase of mean sphincter pressure in patients with oesophagitis and/or symptoms of reflux after pentagastrin (6 microgram/Kg b.w., s.c.) by means of pull-through perfusionsmanometry. Nearly in half of the patients with oesophagitis and symptoms of reflux basal sphincter pressure and sphincter reaction on pentagastrin were found in a normal range. Disturbances of basal sphincter pressure and its reaction on pentagastrin have shown a dependence on the anamnesis duration.