Diagnosis of chest pain with foregut symptoms in Chinese patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the diagnosis of chest pain with foregut symptoms in Chinese patients.


METHODS
Esophageal manometric studies, 24-h introesophageal pH monitoring and 24-h electrocardiograms (Holter electrocardiography) were performed in 61 patients with chest pain.


RESULTS
Thirty-nine patients were diagnosed with non-specific esophageal motility disorders (29 patients with abnormal gastroesophageal reflux and eight patients with myocardial ischemia). Five patients had diffuse spasm of the esophagus plus abnormal gastroesophageal reflux (two patients had concomitant myocardial ischemia), and one patient was diagnosed with nutcracker esophagus.


CONCLUSIONS
The esophageal manometric studies, 24-h intra-esophageal pH monitoring and Holter electrocardiography are significant for the differential diagnosis of chest pain, particularly in patients with foregut symptoms. In cases of esophageal motility disorders, pathological gastroesophageal reflux may be a major cause of chest pain with non-specific esophageal motility disorders. Spasm of the esophageal smooth muscle might affect the heart-coronary smooth muscle, leading to myocardial ischemia.
Deng
Bo
B
Thoracic Surgery Department, Institute of Surgery Research, Daping Hospital, The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400042, China. superdb@163.com
Wang
Ru-Wen
RW
Jiang
Yao-Guang
YG
Tan
Qun-You
QY
Liao
Xiang-Li
XL
Zhou
Jing-Hai
JH
Zhao
Yun-Ping
YP
Gong
Tai-Qian
TQ
Ma
Zheng
Z
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002681:China; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015155:Esophageal Spasm, Diffuse / Q000175:diagnosis; D004947:Esophagus / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult