Increased intragastric pressure gradients are involved in the  occurrence of acid reflux in gastroesophageal reflux disease.
OBJECTIVE
Increased pressure gradients across the esophagogastric junction (DeltaEGJp) play a role in gastroesophageal flow during TLESR. The aim of this study was to further explore DeltaEGJp in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and controls.


METHODS
Twenty GERD patients were studied along with 20 control subjects. High resolution manometry and pH recording were performed 1 h before and 2 h after a liquid meal (500 ml/300 kcal). DeltaEGJp was calculated at the start of a TLESR and at 180, 60, and 10 s before TLESR.


RESULTS
DeltaEGJp at the start of a TLESR and at 180, 60, and 10 s before TLESR was markedly increased in GERD patients compared with that in control subjects (9.9 mmHg and 7.5 mmHg, respectively; p<0.05). Whilst intragastric pressure gradients in GERD patients were increased compared with those in controls (4.6 mmHg and 2.5 mmHg, respectively; p<0.01), intraesophageal pressure gradients were similar in both groups. Furthermore, in controls, first- and second-hour postprandial intragastric pressures were decreased compared with in fasting periods (1.9 +/- 0.4 mmHg and 2.1 +/- 0.4 mmHg versus 3.5 +/- 0.4 mmHg; p<0.05), while this was not observed in GERD patients.


CONCLUSIONS
In GERD patients, DeltaEGJp is greater than that in controls both before and during TLESR. This phenomenon is caused by increased intragastric pressure and might contribute to increased rates of acid reflux during TLESR in GERD patients.
Frankhuisen
Rutger
R
Department of Gastroenterology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. rutgerfrankhuisen@gmail.com
Van Herwaarden
Margot A
MA
Scheffer
Robert Ch
RCh
Hebbard
Geoffrey S
GS
Gooszen
Hein G
HG
Samsom
Melvin
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D049630:Esophageal Sphincter, Lower / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050782:Esophageal pH Monitoring; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000502:physiology*; D011312:Pressure; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity