Bt. Johnston et al., Repetitive proximal esophageal contractions: A new manometric finding and a possible further link between Parkinson's disease and achalasia, DYSPHAGIA, 16(3), 2001, pp. 186-189
Repetitive, spontaneous contractions of the proximal esophagus have recentl
y been identified as a feature of achalasia. This article documents similar
findings in six patients with Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease and
achalasia share many common features neurologically. Both have Lewy bodies
in the esophageal myenteric plexuses and the substantia nigra, in addition
to evidence of degeneration of the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus. The
esophageal features radiologically and manometrically are also similar. Rep
etitive proximal esophageal contractions may represent another link between
these diseases. They have also been reported in scleroderma. We speculate
that the common link between all three disease processes may be poor disten
sibility of the esophagus.