[Primary esophageal motility disorders: medical treatment]

Minerva Dietol Gastroenterol. 1990 Jul-Sep;36(3):145-55.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

Primary esophageal motility disorders consist of a complex group of motor disturbances, affecting the characteristics of esophageal contractions, occurrence of peristalsis and lower esophageal sphincter function. The medical treatment is still challenging because of the absence, except for Achalasia, of generally agreed criteria for diagnosis and the still unresolved relationship between esophageal symptoms and some motor abnormalities. In Achalasia, the medical therapy does not constitute a main role and should be reserved to selected conditions. Current medical therapies for Diffuse Esophageal Spasm and Esophageal Chest Pain are often considered less than satisfactory, however, a better physiopathological knowledge of these conditions might produce a more appropriate therapeutic management of the patients with continual and disabling symptoms.

Publication types

  • English Abstract
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Chest Pain / drug therapy
  • Esophageal Achalasia / drug therapy
  • Esophageal Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Esophageal Diseases / physiopathology
  • Esophageal Spasm, Diffuse / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Manometry
  • Peristalsis