Esophageal motility patterns in patients with and without coronary heart disease and healthy controls.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to evaluate esophageal motility patterns in patients with chest pain with and without coronary artery disease, in order to elucidate the question: Does "non-cardiac" chest pain really exist?


METHODS
Patients with chest pain and normal coronary angiograms, patients with chest pain and coronarographically diagnosed coronary artery disease and controls were prospectively studied with long-term manometry.


RESULTS
The pressure amplitudes were 38.3 (NCA)/39.82(CAD) and 30 (CG) mmHg (p<0.02, p<0.02) distally and 30/28.1 and 25.5 mmHg (p<0.02) proximally. The percentage of propulsive contractions were 51.5%/45% and 53.5% (p<0.05) and of simultaneous contractions were 18.5%/23% and 10% (p<0.0005, p<0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Esophageal motility patterns of patients with chest pain and normal coronary angiograms and coronary artery disease differ significantly from controls. Both patient groups show a considerable overlap in motility disturbances. These data indicate that the term "non-cardiac" chest pain in fact does not sufficiently characterize patients' status.
Adamek
R J
RJ
Department of Medicine, St. Josef-Hospital, Ruhr-University of Bochum, Germany.
Roth
B
B
Zymanski
C H
CH
Hagemann
D
D
Pfaffenbach
B
B
D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D015154:Esophageal Motility Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010528:Peristalsis / Q000502:physiology