Esophageal motility patterns in patients with and without coronary heart disease and healthy controls.

Background/aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate esophageal motility patterns in patients with chest pain with and without coronary artery disease, in order to elucidate the question: Does "non-cardiac" chest pain really exist?

Methodology: Patients with chest pain and normal coronary angiograms, patients with chest pain and coronarographically diagnosed coronary artery disease and controls were prospectively studied with long-term manometry.

Results: The pressure amplitudes were 38.3 (NCA)/39.82(CAD) and 30 (CG) mmHg (p<0.02, p<0.02) distally and 30/28.1 and 25.5 mmHg (p<0.02) proximally. The percentage of propulsive contractions were 51.5%/45% and 53.5% (p<0.05) and of simultaneous contractions were 18.5%/23% and 10% (p<0.0005, p<0.0001).

Conclusions: Esophageal motility patterns of patients with chest pain and normal coronary angiograms and coronary artery disease differ significantly from controls. Both patient groups show a considerable overlap in motility disturbances. These data indicate that the term "non-cardiac" chest pain in fact does not sufficiently characterize patients' status.