Patients with non ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) and lowered mechano sensitivity tresholds in stomach may have lowered mechano sensitivity treholds in oesophagus also. The aim was to check this hypothesis.

Methods:

39 patients with NUD (11 men and 24 women, mean age 57 years, SEM 3.72, range 17-86) and 20 controls (10 men, 10 women, mean age 49.3 years, SEM 3.72, range (31-66) were studied. Organis diseases were discarded. Gastric mechano sensitivity was studied with a latex ballon of low compliance, 8 cm lenght, conected to a manometer. Ballon was inflated "in ramp"at 10 ml/sec. and "first sensation", disconfort", and "pain" were registered. At 900 ml inflation was stopped if pain was not evoked. Oesophageal mechano sensitivity was studied with another latex ballon of low compliance which, after inflated with 15 ml. of air, was 3.5 cm. in diameter. Esophageal ballon was inflated "in ramp" (1 ml/sec) up 15 ml. and deflated in 2 cm step from 36 to 22 cm from SDA. Infaltion was stopped whrn symptoms (pain or disconfort were evoked. Oesophageal acid perfusion test was performed.

Results:

83.4 per cent of controls completed up 700 ml. of gastric distension vs. 35.9 per cent of patients with NUD (p>0.001). No significatives differences in intra-ballon pressure slope were observed between both groups. 79.2 per cent of NUD patients had chest pain with oesophageal ballon distension =<7 ml. vs. 5 per cent in controls (p>0.001). Mean volumes were 7.03 ml. (NUD) and 11.9 per cent (controls) (p=0.001). 63 per cent of dyspeptic patients with lowered gastric sensitivity tresholds (< 700 ml) had oesophagic symptoms with inflation volumes =< 7 ml. There was a positive correlation is stomach and oesophageal mechano sensiticities variations (r= 0.75 +/-0.58, p>0.01). Whem analyzed with that results, oesophageal acid perfusion test showed 38.5 per cent of "mixed sensitivities" (both mechano-and chemo-), 30.7 per cent of "mechano sensorials" (negative acid test, positive ballon test), and 10.3 per cent of schemo sensorials" (positive acid test only). In 20.5 per cent both tests were normal at the moment they were done. These results agreed with our previous experiences in oesophagus.

Conclusions:

It was concluded that a significative proportion of NUD patients had lowered tresholds for mechano stimulation of stomach and oesophagus at the time that both tests were done. Such alterations support the hypothesis that a more general mechano-sensitivity alteration in present in patients with NUD. (AU)