Proximal gastric tone in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

Background/objective Abnormal gastric function may be involved in the patho genesis of several gastrointestinal functional disorders. This study evalua ted gastric tone in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), Methods Proximal gastric tone was measured with an electronic barostat in f asting conditions and after oral ingestion of a 200 ml/200 kcal liquid meal in 10 patients with GORD, with control groups consisting of 10 patients wi th dysmotility-like dyspepsia and 16 healthy subjects, Results Minimal distending pressure was increased in GORD patients compared to dyspeptic patients (P< 0.04) and controls (P< 0.001), Maximal postprand ial gastric relaxation was significantly increased in GORD patients (430 +/ - 95 ml) compared to dyspeptic patients (200 +/- 152 mt, P< 0.0001) and con trols (342 +/- 88 mt, P = 0.05), Endoscopy-negative and mild oesophagitis p atients had more profound maximal relaxation than patients with moderate or severe oesophagitis, whereas those with dyspepsia had significantly reduce d gastric relaxation compared to GORD patients and controls (P< 0.002). Conclusions In GORD, the postprandial gastric relaxation is more pronounced than in normal and dyspeptic patients, The pathophysiological relevance of this abnormal motility pattern remains to be determined. Eur J Gastroenter ol Hepatol 11:511-515 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.