Prevalence of ineffective esophageal motility and its relevance to symptoms and esophageal acid exposure in Korean patients referred for foregut symptoms

Background/Aims:The prevalence and clinical significance of ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) in a population with low prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease are not known. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence and its relevance to symptoms and esophageal acid exposure in Korean patients referred for foregut symptoms. Methods: A total of 112 consecutive patients who underwent esophageal manometry, 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring and endoscopy for foregut symptoms were analyzed. IEM was defined as > 20% of wet swallows with amplitudes of < 30 mm Hg or lack of peristalsis. Results: IEM and abnormal acid exposure were observed in respectively 29 and 19% of all subjects. The prevalence of individual symptoms did not differ between IEM and non-IEM groups. Hypotensive lower esophageal sphincter (LES) was significantly more prevalent in IEM patients. The prevalence of abnormal acid exposure in IEM and non-IEM groups was comparable. The prevalence of IEM was similar between patients with and without abnormal acid exposure. Erosive reflux esophagitis was significantly more prevalent in IEM patients compared with non-IEM patients. Conclusion: IEM is not a significant marker for a specific symptom or abnormal acid exposure. However, the presence of IEM is associated with a higher prevalence of hypotensive LES and erosive reflux esophagitis. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.