title: Family occurrence of achalasia and diffuse spasm of the oesophagus.
abstract: In view of the unknown aetiology of achalasia and diffuse oesophageal spasm we report four families (father/son, mother/son, brother/brother, cousin/cousin) with achalasia and oesophageal spasm examined by radiology, endoscopy and manometry. Family occurrence of oesophageal motor disorders supports the hypothesis that a genetic trait may play a role in the pathogenesis. The family coincidence of achalasia and oesophageal spasm supports a close relationship between the two diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, University of Düsseldorf, FR Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Frieling
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Berges
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Borchard
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lübke
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Enck
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wienbeck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000235:genetics*; D015155:Esophageal Spasm, Diffuse / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010375:Pedigree