title: Effects of aging and acid reflux on esophageal motility.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is generally thought that esophageal motility decreases with age; however, a decrease in esophageal motility may also be caused by esophagitis. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of aging and acid reflux on esophageal motility.
  
  
  METHODS
  40 young (under 45) healthy subjects (HS), 40 elderly (over 65) HS, and 40 elderly (over 65) patients with mild reflux esophagitis (RE), underwent esophageal high-resolution manometry (HRM). Lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP), primary peristalsis (PP), and secondary peristalsis (SP) were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference in the LESP and also in the success rate of PP between young and elderly HS or between elderly HS and RE. There was no difference in the distal contractile integral (DCI) of PP and SP between the young and elderly HS, but in the elderly RE, it was significantly lower than in the elderly HS. There was no difference in the success rate of SP between elderly HS and RE, but in elderly HS it was significantly lower than in young HS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aging may cause a decrease in the success rate of SP, and acid reflux itself may cause a decrease of the DCI in PP and SP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Nippon Medical School, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Noriyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kawami
authors.forename: Katsuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwakiri
authors.forename: Hirohito
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.forename: Yuriko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Choitsu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015154:Esophageal Motility Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D049630:Esophageal Sphincter, Lower; D004942:Esophagitis, Peptic / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D004947:Esophagus / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D010528:Peristalsis / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult