Effects of anti-hypertensive drugs on esophageal body contraction.
OBJECTIVE
To clarify the effects of anti-hypertensive drugs on esophageal contraction and determine their possible relationship with gastro-esophageal reflux disease.


METHODS
Thirteen healthy male volunteers were enrolled. Esophageal body peristaltic contractions and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure were measured using high resolution manometry. All subjects were randomly examined on four separate occasions following administrations of nifedipine, losartan, and atenolol, as well as without any drug administration.


RESULTS
Peristaltic contractions by the esophageal body were separated into three segments by two troughs. The peak peristaltic pressures in the mid and lower segments of the esophageal body under atenolol administration were significantly higher than those without medication in a supine position. On the other hand, peristaltic pressures under nifedipine administration were lower than those observed without drug administration. Losartan did not change esophageal body peristalsis. Atenolol elevated LES pressure and slowed peristaltic wave transition, while the effects of nifedipine were the opposite.


CONCLUSIONS
Among the anti-hypertensive drugs tested, atenolol enhanced esophageal motor activity, which was in contrast to nifedipine.
Yoshida
Koichi
K
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, 89-1 Enya-cho, Izumo-shi, Shimane 693-8501, Japan.
Furuta
Kenji
K
Adachi
Kyoichi
K
Ohara
Shunji
S
Morita
Terumi
T
Tanimura
Takashi
T
Nakata
Shuji
S
Miki
Masaharu
M
Koshino
Kenji
K
Kinoshita
Yoshikazu
Y
D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001262:Atenolol / Q000494:pharmacology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D019808:Losartan / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects*; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010528:Peristalsis / Q000187:drug effects*; D013565:Sympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D013565:Sympatholytics; D001262:Atenolol; D009543:Nifedipine; D019808:Losartan