Esophageal manometric abnormalities in Parkinson's disease

Dysphagia. 1998 Winter;13(1):28-31. doi: 10.1007/PL00009546.

Abstract

The gastrointestinal tract, and especially the esophagus, is frequently involved in neurological diseases; however, objective studies of gut motor function are few. We carried out an esophageal manometric study in 18 patients with various stages of Parkinson's disease (4 stage I, 4 stage II, 7 stage III, and 3 stage IV) to evaluate the function of the viscus in this disease. Clinical assessment showed that 61% complained of esophageal symptoms such as dysphagia, acid regurgitation, pyrosis, and noncardiac chest pain. Manometric abnormalities were documented also in 61% patients, and were represented by repetitive contractions, simultaneous contractions, reduced LES pressure, and high-amplitude contractions. However, only 33.3% of patients had both symptoms and manometric abnormalities. We conclude that esophageal motor abnormalities are frequent in Parkinson's disease, and may appear at an early stage of the disease.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Deglutition Disorders / complications*
  • Deglutition Disorders / diagnosis
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Manometry*
  • Middle Aged
  • Parkinson Disease / complications*
  • Severity of Illness Index