PURPOSE: We investigated the relationship between the severity of reflux esophagitis (RE) according to the Los Angeles (LA) classification and esophageal motility. METHODS: We examined 28 healthy subjects (HS) and 48 RE patients (grade A of the LA classification, 16 patients; grade B, 16 patients; grade C or D, 16 patients). Esophageal manometry was performed by the intraluminal microtransducer method. Resting lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure was assessed by the rapid pull-through method. Esophageal contraction after ten repeated 5-ml water swallowings separated by 30-s intervals was measured at 3, 8, 13, and 18 cm above the LES. RESULTS: The resting LES pressure and the amplitude of esophageal contraction 3 cm above the LES in the grades C + D group were significantly lower than those in the HS group. The amplitude of esophageal contraction 3 cm above the LES in the grade B group was significantly lower than those in the grade A group and the HS group. The frequency of failed peristalsis in the grades C + D group was significantly higher than that in the HS group and the grade A and grade B groups. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggested that the severity of RE according to the LA classification would be likely to mainly reflect esophageal volume clearance.
PURPOSE: We investigated the relationship between the severity of reflux esophagitis (RE) according to the Los Angeles (LA) classification and esophageal motility. METHODS: We examined 28 healthy subjects (HS) and 48 RE patients (grade A of the LA classification, 16 patients; grade B, 16 patients; grade C or D, 16 patients). Esophageal manometry was performed by the intraluminal microtransducer method. Resting lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure was assessed by the rapid pull-through method. Esophageal contraction after ten repeated 5-ml water swallowings separated by 30-s intervals was measured at 3, 8, 13, and 18 cm above the LES. RESULTS: The resting LES pressure and the amplitude of esophageal contraction 3 cm above the LES in the grades C + D group were significantly lower than those in the HS group. The amplitude of esophageal contraction 3 cm above the LES in the grade B group was significantly lower than those in the grade A group and the HS group. The frequency of failed peristalsis in the grades C + D group was significantly higher than that in the HS group and the grade A and grade B groups. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggested that the severity of RE according to the LA classification would be likely to mainly reflect esophageal volume clearance.