Secondary esophageal contractions are abnormal in chronic alcoholics.

It is known that primary (swallow-induced) esophageal contractions are abnormal in alcoholics. Data concerning acid-induced esophageal contractions, which appear to be important in cleansing refluxed acid from the esophagus, are lacking. To determine whether acid-induced esophageal contractions are also affected by chronic ethanol exposure, we studied secondary (acid or saline-induced) esophageal motor events in 19 male alcoholics [6 actively drinking (ADA), 13 withdrawing (WA)]. Esophageal motility was performed in response to wet swallows (5 ml of water) and to intraesophageal injection of 5 ml of 0.1 N HCl (0.1 N) or saline. Lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP), amplitude (ECA), duration (ECD), and velocity (ECV) of esophageal contractions in response to swallowing and injection of acid or saline were similar in controls and alcoholics. There were more simultaneous and double-peaked contractions in response to acid and saline than to swallows in both alcoholics and controls. However, there was no difference between HCl- and NaCl-induced contractions. ECA in alcoholics was significantly higher than in controls. ECD in alcoholics was significantly more prolonged than in controls. There was no significant different between alcoholics and controls in ECV, LESP, or LES relaxation. These data indicate that similar to primary esophageal contractions, secondary esophageal contractions are also abnormal in both actively drinking and withdrawing alcoholics.