Gastroesophageal reflux and pharyngeal function.
Pharyngeal function and gastroesophageal reflux were compared in 84 dysphagic patients examined clinically and radiologically. Cricopharyngeal muscle incoordination, assessed cineradiographically, was revealed in 5 of 41 patients (12%) without and 17 of 43 patients (40%) with gastroesophageal reflux assessed clinically (p less than 0.05). Thus, there was a positive correlation between dysfunction of the cricopharyngeal muscle and gastroesophageal reflux. There was no correlation with other types of pharyngeal dysfunction. Our results support the assumption of a positive relationship between gastroesophageal reflux and pharyngeal function in terms of cricopharyngeal dysfunction. The pathogenesis of this relation was, however, not revealed.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000150:complications; D010609:Pharyngeal Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*