ESOPHAGEAL MANOMETRIC ABNORMALITIES IN PARKINSONS-DISEASE

The gastrointestinal tract, and especially the esophagus, is frequentl y 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% compla ined of esophageal symptoms such as dysphagia, acid regurgitation, pyr osis, and noncardiac chest pain. Manometric abnormalities were documen ted also in 61% patients, and were represented by repetitive contracti ons, simultaneous contractions, reduced LES pressure, and high-amplitu de contractions. However, only 33.3% of patients had both symptoms and manometric abnormalities. We conclude that esophageal motor abnormali ties are frequent in Parkinson's disease, and may appear at an early s tage of the disease.