Esophagography in Patients With Esophageal Achalasia Diagnosed With High-resolution Esophageal Manometry

( Takahisa Yamasaki ),( Toshihiko Tomita ),( Sumire Mori ),( Mayu Takimoto ),( Akio Tamura ),( Ken Hara ),( Takashi Kondo ),( Tomoaki Kono ),( Katsuyuki Tozawa ),( Yoshio Ohda ),( Tadayuki Oshima ),( 대한소화기기능성질환·운동학회(구 대한소화관운동학회) 2018 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.24 No.3

Background/Aims High-resolution esophageal manometry (HREM) is considered to be the gold standard for the diagnosis of achalasia. However, the Japan Esophageal Society recommends that esophagography is also accurate in either diagnosing or excluding the disorder. Accordingly, we compared the efficacy of esophagography and HREM in diagnosing achalasia patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Methods HREM was performed in 126 patients with dysphagia. The final diagnosis of achalasia was done using HREM. Demographic data, symptoms, quality of life (QOL) were also obtained. We assessed the patients who were not able to be diagnosed by esophagography and compared the diagnostic values for esophagography with HREM-based achalasia diagnosis as the gold standard. Results A total of 48 cases of patients with achalasia, including 21 men and 27 women (mean age, 48.4 ± 19.6 years), were included in the study. Two patients were excluded. Of the remaining 46 patients, 36 (78.3%) patients were diagnosed as having achalasia by esophagography. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of esophagography were 78.3%, 88.0%, and 83.0%, respectively. Patients with type III achalasia had significantly lower physical QOL score than those with type I or II achalasia. Although the mental QOL score in patients with type III achalasia tended to decrease compared with that in patients with type I and II achalasia, the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions Diagnosing esophageal achalasia by using esophagography alone has limited yield. Therefore, HREM should be used in patients with dysphagia and in whom achalasia cannot be diagnosed using EGD or esophagography. (J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2018;24:403-409)

Role of endoscopy in patients with achalasia

So Young Han,Young Hoon Youn 대한소화기내시경학회 2023 Clinical Endoscopy Vol.56 No.5

Achalasia is an esophageal motility disorder characterized by impaired lower esophageal sphincter relaxation and peristalsis of theesophageal body. With the increasing prevalence of achalasia, interest in the role of endoscopy in its diagnosis, treatment, and monitoringis also growing. The major diagnostic modalities for achalasia include high-resolution manometry, esophagogastroduodenoscopy,and barium esophagography. Endoscopic assessment is important for early diagnosis to rule out diseases that mimic achalasia symptoms,such as pseudo-achalasia, esophageal cancer, esophageal webs, and eosinophilic esophagitis. The major endoscopic characteristicssuggestive of achalasia include a widened esophageal lumen and food residue in the esophagus. Once diagnosed, achalasia can betreated either endoscopically or surgically. The preference for endoscopic treatment is increasing owing to its minimal invasiveness. Botulinum toxins, pneumatic balloon dilation, and peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) are important endoscopic treatments. Previousstudies have demonstrated excellent treatment outcomes for POEM, with >95% improvement in dysphagia, making POEM themainstay treatment option for achalasia. Several studies have reported an increased risk of esophageal cancer in patients with achalasia. However, routine endoscopic surveillance remains controversial owing to the lack of sufficient data. Further studies on surveillancemethods and duration are warranted to establish concordant guidelines for the endoscopic surveillance of achalasia.

Achalasia Cardia Subtyping by High-Resolution Manometry Predicts the Therapeutic Outcome of Pneumatic Balloon Dilatation

( Nitesh Pratap ),( Rakesh Kalapala ),( Santosh Darisetty ),( Nitin Joshi ),( Mohan Ramchandani ),( Rupa Banerjee ),( Sandeep Lakhtakia ),( Rajesh Gupta ),( Manu Tandan ),( Nageshwar Reddy ) 대한소화기기능성질환·운동학회(구 대한소화관운동학회) 2011 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.17 No.1

Background/Aims High-resolution manometry (HRM) with pressure topography is used to subtype achalasia cardia, which has therapeutic implications. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics, manometric variables and treatment outcomes among the achalasia subtypes based on the HRM findings. Methods The patients who underwent HRM at the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Hyderabad between January 2008 and January 2009 were enrolled. The patients with achalasia were categorized into 3 subtypes: type I - achalasia with minimum esophageal pressurization, type Ⅱ - achalasia with esophageal compression and type Ⅲ - achalasia with spasm. The clinical and manometric variables and treatment outcomes were compared. Results Eighty-nine out of the 900 patients who underwent HRM were diagnosed as achalasia cardia. Fifty-one patients with a minimum follow-up period of 6 months were included. Types I and Ⅱ achalasia were diagnosed in 24 patients each and 3 patients were diagnosed as type Ⅲ achalasia. Dysphagia and regurgitation were the main presenting symptoms in patients with types I and Ⅱ achalasia. Patients with type Ⅲ achalasia had high basal lower esophageal sphincter pressure and maximal esophageal pressurization when compared to types I and II. Most patients underwent pneumatic dilatation (type I, 22/24; type Ⅱ, 20/24; type Ⅲ, 3/3). Patients with type Ⅱ had the best response to pneumatic dilatation (18/20, 90.0%) compared to types I (14/22, 63.3%) and Ⅲ (1/3, 33.3%). Conclusions The type Ⅱ achalasia cardia showed the best response to pneumatic dilatation. (J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2011;17:48-53)

Morphologic Restoration After Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy in Sigmoid-type Achalasia

( Hong Jin Yoon ),( Jeung Eun Lee ),( Da Hyun Jung ),( Jun Chul Park ),( Young Hoon Youn ),( Hyojin Park ) 대한소화기 기능성질환·운동학회 2020 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.26 No.1

Background/Aims Achalasia is a chronic, progressive motility disorder of the esophagus. The sigmoid-type achalasia is an advanced stage of achalasia characterized by severe dilatation and tortuous angulation of the esophageal body. Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has been reported to provide excellent clinical outcomes for achalasia, including the sigmoid type, but the restoration of esophageal morphology and function remain poorly described. The aim of our study is to investigate esophageal restoration after POEM for sigmoid-type achalasia. Methods From 98 patients with achalasia who underwent POEM in the Yonsei University Health System from 2013 to 2018, we recruited 13 patients with sigmoid-type achalasia (7 male; mean age 53.3 years) and assessed morphological and manometric changes in the esophagus. Results Clinical success (Eckardt score < 3) was achieved in all cases. After POEM, the average angle of esophageal tortuosity became more obtuse (91.5° vs 114.6°, P = 0.046), esophageal body diameter decreased (67.6 vs 49.8 mm, P = 0.002), and esophagogastric junction opening widened (6.4 vs 9.5 mm, P = 0.048). Patients whose esophageal tortuosity did not improve had longer durations of symptoms than patients with improvement (80.2 vs 636 months, P < 0.001). An absence of peristalsis was observed in all patients pre- and post-POEM. Conclusions POEM resulted in excellent clinical outcomes and morphologic improvement in sigmoid-type achalasia. These results suggest that the improvement of esophageal tortuosity through POEM reflects a reduced esophageal burden.

Morphologic Changes in Esophageal Body Movement During Bolus Transport After Peroral Endoscopic Myotomy in Type III Achalasia

( Alex Ju Sung Kim ),( Sungmoon Ong ),( Ji Hyun Kim ),( Hong Sub Lee ),( Jun Sik Yoon ),( Dae Young Hur ) 대한소화기기능성질환·운동학회 2022 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.28 No.1

Background/Aims The effect of peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) on esophageal body movement in achalasia is poorly understood. This study aims to evaluate morphological changes in esophageal body movement after POEM in type III achalasia by analyzing intraluminal ultrasound (US) images in comparison to type I and II achalasia. Methods Intraluminal US images and impedance values of the distal esophagus from 47 achalasia patients who underwent POEM or pneumatic dilatation (PD) (30 patients in the POEM group and 17 patients in the PD group) with pre- and post-procedural high-resolution impedance manometry and intraluminal US examinations were analyzed. The muscle thickness (MT), muscle cross-sectional area, lumen cross-sectional area (LCSA), contractility and distensibility indices, swallow-to-distension interval, and distension duration during each bolus transport were analyzed. Results The MT increased and LCSA decreased significantly (P < 0.001), but the contractility index was not improved after POEM or PD in type I achalasia. Baseline MT increased and LCSA decreased significantly after POEM and PD in type II achalasia (P < 0.001). In contrast, MT and the swallow-to-distension interval decreased and the distension LCSA/duration and contractility index increased after POEM in type III achalasia (P < 0.001). In contrast to type I and II achalasia, in type III achalasia, these effects were unique to the POEM group. Conclusions POEM decreased the esophageal LCSA by decreasing intrabolus pressure without improving contractility in type I and II achalasia. In contrast, POEM increased esophageal body distension and contractility and improved the inhibitory process during bolus transport in type III achalasia. (J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2022;28:131-144)

역류성 식도염과 병발한 식도 이완불능증

손덕승 ( Der Sheng Sun ),장재혁 ( Jae Hyuck Chang ),남관우 ( Kwan Woo Nam ),권정현 ( Jung Hyun Kwon ),서정필 ( Jung Pil Suh ),박호성 ( Ho Sung Park ),백창렬 ( Chang Nyol Paik ),박재명 ( Jae Myung Park ),조유경 ( Yu Kyung Cho ) 대한소화기기능성질환·운동학회 2007 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.13 No.1

Achalasia is characterized by esophageal nonperistaltic contraction and incomplete relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter with swallowing, as can be seen on esophageal manometry. Since the low esophageal sphincter in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is hypotensive or inappropriately relaxed, achalasia has been considered quite distinct from GERD. The food in the low esophagus of a patient with achalasia can ferment and cause inflammation. GERD should be differentiated from retention esophagitis. We recently experienced a 32-year-old male patient who complained of chest pain. He was previously diagnosed with a variant of angina pectoris, but his symptoms did not improve with calcium channel blocker or nitrate. He was diagnosed with reflux esophagitis on esophagogastroduodenoscopy and 24 hour esophageal pH monitoring, and also with achalasia on the esophageal manometry. After esophageal balloon dilatation for treating the achalasia, his symptoms were much improved. (Kor J Neuro-gastroenterol Motil 2007;13:72-75)

Imbalance of Innate and Adaptive Immunity in Esophageal Achalasia

Lu Yao,Zuqiang Liu,Weifeng Chen,Jiaqi Xu,Xiaoyue Xu,Jiaxin Xu,Liyun Ma,Xiaoqing Li,Quanlin Li,Pinghong Zhou 대한소화기 기능성질환∙운동학회 2023 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.29 No.4

Background/AimsPrevious studies reveal that immune-mediated neuroinflammation plays a key role in the etiology of esophageal achalasia. However, the understanding of leucocyte phenotype and proportion is limited. This study aim to evaluate the phenotypes of leukocytes and peripheral blood mononuclear cells transcriptomes in esophageal achalasia. MethodsWe performed high-dimensional flow cytometry to identified subsets of peripheral leukocytes, and further validated in lower esophageal sphincter histologically. RNA sequencing was applied to investigate the transcriptional changes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with achalasia. Cell-type Identification by Estimating Relative Subsets of RNA Transcripts (CIBERSORT) was used for estimating the immune cell types. A differential gene expression analysis was performed and the differential expressed genes were subjected to gene ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes network, protein-protein interaction network construction. ResultsAn imbalance between innate and adaptive immune cells occurred in achalasia. Specifically, neutrophils and CD8+ T cells increased both in peripheral blood and lower esophageal sphincter in achalasia. Eosinophils decreased in peripheral blood but massively infiltrated in lower esophageal sphincter. CIBERSORT analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells RNA sequencing displayed an increased prevalence of CD8+ T cells. 170 dysregulated genes were identified in achalasia, which were enriched in immune cells migration, immune response, etc. Proton pump inhibitor analysis revealed the intersections and gained 7 hub genes in achalasia, which were IL-6, Toll-like receptor 2, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor, complement C3, and complement C1q A chain. ConclusionPatients with achalasia exhibited an imbalance of systematic innate and adaptive immunity, which may play an important role in the development of achalasia.

식도 이완불능

박광범,정기욱 대한상부위장관ㆍ헬리코박터학회 2022 Korean Journal of Helicobacter Upper Gastrointesti Vol.22 No.3

Achalasia is characterized by peristaltic failure and incomplete relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter. The incidence and prevalence of achalasia increase with age, although achalasia can affect all age groups. The pathophysiology of achalasia involves the loss of inhibitory ganglion cells in the myenteric plexus of the esophagus. Its main symptoms include dysphagia, chest pain, regurgitation, and weight loss. The method of diagnosing achalasia has evolved from conventional manometry in the 1970s to high-resolution manometry in the 2010s. High-resolution manometry based on spatiotemporal plots can diagnose achalasia more precisely than conventional manometry. Moreover, novel parameters such as integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) (according to the Chicago classification) have increased diagnostic accuracy. However, cases of achalasia presenting with normal IRP have been reported. Therefore, the novel Chicago classification version 4.0 has adopted additional tests. These tests include the stress test for esophageal motor disorders, timed barium esophagography, and test using a functional lumen imaging probe that measures the distensibility of the esophagogastric junction. Achalasia was previously treated using surgical myotomy, balloon dilation, and botulinum toxin injection. However, peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has recently become the mainstay treatment. POEM has a higher clinical success rate and a lower complication rate than surgical myotomy. Esophageal cancer and pulmonary conditions such as aspiration pneumonia are possible complications of achalasia. In this review, the current knowledge regarding achalasia together with novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies are discussed.

Characteristics of a Subset of Achalasia With Normal Integrated Relaxation Pressure

( Eunju Kim ),( In Kyung Yoo ),( Dong Keon Yon ),( Joo Young Cho ),( Sung Pyo Hong ) 대한소화기기능성질환·운동학회(구 대한소화관운동학회) 2020 Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility (JNM Vol.26 No.2

Background/Aims Integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) is a critical diagnostic criterion to define achalasia. However, there are some cases with typical symptoms and signs of achalasia but with normal IRP. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients with achalasia with normal IRP and outcomes after peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM). Methods Patients with achalasia were collected in whom POEM was performed from November 2014 to April 2018 at CHA Bundang Medical Center. Achalasia with normal IRP was defined by findings compatible to achalasia in Eckardt score, endoscopy with endoscopic ultrasound, high-resolution manometry, impedance planimetry (EndoFlip), and timed esophagogram. Results POEM was performed in 89 patients with achalasia; among them, 24 (27%) patients were diagnosed with achalasia with normal IRP. Patients with achalasia with normal IRP were older, had longer duration of symptom, and had a more tortuous esophagus. In EndoFlip, the distensibility index and cross-sectional area were higher in patients with normal IRP. Therapeutic outcomes showed no statistically significant differences. On correlation analysis, IRP had negative correlations with age, disease duration, and distensibility index. Conclusions Patients with achalasia of normal IRP value were older and had longer disease duration and higher distensibility index and cross-sectional area than patients with achalasia with abnormal relaxation of lower esophageal sphincter. Therapeutic outcomes were not different between the 2 groups. (J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2020;26:274-280)

아칼라지아 환자의 자율신경계 기능 이상

김민재,조은하,Zahid Hussain,박효진 대한소화기학회 2024 대한소화기학회지 Vol.83 No.2

Background/Aims: Achalasia is an esophageal motility disorder characterized by dysphagia and noncardiac chest pain. Impairment of vagal function has been reported in achalasia. This study evaluated autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunctions in patients with achalasia to establish a correlation between an ANS dysfunction and the clinical symptoms of achalasia. Methods: Nineteen patients with achalasia (six males/13 females; mean age, 47.1±16.3 years) and 10 healthy controls (four males/six females; 34.8±10.7 years) were enrolled prospectively at Gangnam Severance Hospital between June 2013 and June 2014. All patients completed a questionnaire on ANS dysfunction symptoms and underwent a heart rate variability (HRV) test. Results: ANS dysfunction symptoms were present in 13 patients with achalasia (69%) and three controls (30%). The ANS dysfunction score was significantly higher in patients with achalasia than in the controls (p=0.035). There were no significant differences in the standard deviation of all normal R-R intervals, high frequency (HF), low frequency (LF), and LF/HF ratio in the HRV test. In subgroup analysis comparing female achalasia patients with controls, the cardiac activity was significantly higher in the female achalasia patients than in the controls (p=0.036). The cardiac activity (p=0.004) and endurance to stress (p=0.004) were significantly higher in the achalasia patients with ANS dysfunction symptoms than the achalasia patients without ANS dysfunction symptoms. Conclusions: ANS dysfunction symptoms are common in patients with achalasia. Female achalasia patients and those with ANS dysfunction symptoms showed increased cardiac activity. Hence, more attention should be paid to cardiac overload in achalasia patients who are female or have ANS dysfunction symptoms.