386 Delayed Esophago-Gastric Junction Relaxation in Patients With Jackhammer Esophagus Suggest That the Hypercontractile Peristalsis May Be a Compensatory Mechanism

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Jackhammer esophagus (JE) is esophageal motility disorder characterized by hypercontractile peristalsis, diagnosed by high resolution manometry (HRM) showing increased contractile vigor distal contractile integral (DCI) >8000 mmHg/s/cm. Hypothesis: hypercontractile peristalsis in JE may be a compensatory mechanism for impaired EGJ relaxation, which even with normal integrated relaxation pressure (IRP), may be expressed as delayed onset of relaxation. We compare time to onset of EGJ relaxation in JE patients with normal IRP, control patients presenting for evaluation of esophageal symptoms with normal HRM, and asymptomatic healthy volunteers. METHODS: We compared time to onset of EGJ relaxation in 44 patients (24 JE, 20 with normal HRM) and 21 asymptomatic healthy volunteers who underwent HRM. Demographic characteristics and validated esophageal questionnaires (GERDQ, BEDQ, Eckardt) collected in all subjects. HRM performed by administering ten 5-ml liquid swallows, Chicago Classification v3.0 used to diagnose JE and normal esophageal motility. Time to onset of EGJ relaxation after swallow initiation was measured in seconds, from time of upper esophageal sphincter opening to EGJ opening. EGJ opening was determined at an isobaric contour of 23 mmHg, based on analysis in the healthy volunteers showing persistent EGJ effacement at this value in 100% of the volunteers. Median times to onset of relaxation for the study groups were compared by Wilcoxon rank sum test. RESULTS: Demographics, questionnaire scores, and HRM metrics in Table 1; patients were older and had higher scores compared to healthy volunteers; HRM metrics were different among the study groups with the exception of DL. Median times to onset of relaxation after swallow initiation shown in Figure 1. There was no difference in median time to onset of relaxation for volunteers compared to patient controls with normal HRM 0.20 s vs 0.90 s, P = 0.149. Median time to onset of relaxation was significantly longer in JE patients compared to volunteers and patient controls 3.30s vs 0.20 s vs 0.90 s, P = 0.001. CONCLUSION: Patients with JE and normal EGJ relaxation by IRP have significantly delayed onset of EGJ relaxation compared to healthy subjects and control patients with normal HRM. Hypercontractile peristalsis in these JE patients could be a compensatory mechanism to overcome outflow obstruction manifested as delayed EGJ relaxation. Therefore, if our findings are confirmed, therapies to address impaired EGJ relaxation could be considered.