Characteristics of esophageal acid exposure and motility on patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease

Objective To investigate the association between ineffective esophageal motility(IEM) and gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD),and the impact of body weight on esophageal acid exposure and motility. Methods A total of 77 patients who underwent HRM and ambulatory 24 h pH monitoring due to reflux symptoms were enrolled. The characteristics of esophageal acid exposure in normal esophageal motility and ineffective esophageal motility were analyzed. Results Seventy-seven patients who presented with reflux symptoms,pathologic acid reflux was found in 38 cases(49%). Ineffective esophageal motility was found in 9 cases(24%) in the pathologic reflux group and 5 cases(13%) in the functional reflux group. Lower esophageal sphincter(LES) pressure was lower in IEM group than that in esophageal motility normal group(15. 15 ± 3. 60 vs 22. 15 ± 6. 73,P 0. 01),and total reflux times was higher in IEM group than that in esophageal motility normal group [(14. 78 ± 3. 8)% vs(4. 30 ± 2. 68)%,P 0. 01)]. BMI in IEM group was more higher than that in normal motility group. Conclusion IEM is the most common esophageal dysmotility in patients with GERD and closely related to distal esophageal acid exposure.