title: Oesophageal dysfunction in familial amyloidosis with polyneuropathy.
abstract: Sixteen patients with familial amyloidosis and polyneuropathy (FAP) and 14 health subjects underwent oesophageal manometry. Six of the patients had a severe oesophageal dysmotility with almost completely abolished propulsive pressure waves on swallowing in the lower 2/3 of the oesophagus. Ten patients had moderate dysfunction with reduced propulsive pressure wave amplitudes. Neostigmine increased the pressure wave amplitudes in healthy subjects but less so in the FAP patients. Scopolamine (Scopyl)-terbutaline (Bricanyl) almost abolished the propulsive pressure waves in healthy subjects and all patients in the lower 2/3 of the esophagus. Oesophageal distensibility, tested by inflating a rubber balloon in the oesophagus, was similar in FAP patients and healthy subjects. Thus, it is unlikely that amyloid deposits in the mucosal wall increased the oesophageal stiffness. An autonomic, predominantly vagal, denervation probably explains the disturbed function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Physiology, University of Umeå, Sweden.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bjerle
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ek
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Linderholm
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Steen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000686:Amyloidosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D003679:Deglutition; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009388:Neostigmine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D012601:Scopolamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013726:Terbutaline / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D009388:Neostigmine; D012601:Scopolamine; D013726:Terbutaline