title: Cholinergic innervation of the lower esophageal sphincter in Chagas' disease.
abstract: 1. The effect of 12 micrograms/kg iv atropine on the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure was studied by continuous perfusion manometry in 14 Chagasic patients, 9 controls, and 3 patients with achalasia, and the effect of 3 ml iv saline was studied in 7 Chagasic patients. 2. Resting LES pressure did not differ between Chagasic patients (11.5 +/- 4.1 mmHg) and controls (15.9 +/- 4.9 mmHg, P greater than 0.05). 3. Atropine caused a significant decrease in LES pressure in both Chagasics and controls, but the reduction in controls was significantly greater (56%) than in Chagasics (25%). 4. Saline did not change the LES pressure of Chagasics. Atropine caused a similar reduction of LES pressure in achalasia patients (49%) and in controls (56%). 5. These results suggest that the cholinergic excitatory nerves are impaired in Chagas' disease, but not in achalasia, where they were either normal or only minimally impaired.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002799:Cholinergic Fibers / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004931:Esophageal Achalasia / Q000503:physiopathology; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000294:innervation* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011312:Pressure
chemical_list: D001285:Atropine