Spectrum of esophageal disorders in children with chest pain.

The charts of 83 children with chest pain who underwent esophageal manometry followed by esophagogastroscopy were reviewed. Forty-seven (57%) had normal esophageal histology and normal motility (group I). Esophagitis and normal motility were demonstrated in 15 children (group II), normal esophageal histology and esophageal dysmotility in 13 (group III), and both esophagitis and abnormal motility in 8 (group IV). Diffuse esophageal spasm and achalasia were the most common motility disorders identified (in seven and four patients, respectively). The presence and duration of symptoms, the age, and the gender were not different among the four patient groups. After six months of H2-receptor blockade, 12 of 15 group II patients were asymptomatic, whereas a significantly smaller percentage (five of 18) of patients with abnormal esophageal motility responded to esophageal dilation or treatment with calcium channel blockade, H2-receptor antagonist, and/or prokinetic agents (P less than 0.01). These data suggest that the evaluation of children with chest pain should include esophageal motility testing and esophagoscopy, even in the absence of other gastrointestinal-associated symptoms, and that while treatment of esophagitis results in resolution of symptoms, motility disorders were relatively refractory to therapy.