Alteration of esophageal peristalsis by pentagastrin in patients with diffuse esophageal spasm.

Although it has been shown that gastrin and gastric alkalinization affect the lower esophageal sphincter, in vivo studies have not demonstrated a measurable effect of pentagastrin on esophageal peristalsis. In 9 patients with diffuse esophageal spam and in 10 control subjects esophageal peristalsis was recorded before and after pentagastrin infections. Subcutaneous pentagastrin increased peak amplitude significantly more in patients, 31.2 +/- 8.1 mm Hg (mean +/- S.E.M.), than in controls, 12.1 +/- 5.1 mm Hg (P less than 0.02). Max. duration of contraction waves in patients showed a rise of 11.3 +/- 2.7 sec as compared to controls, 1.9 +/- 0.9 sec (P less than 0.01). The effect of pentagastrin on esophageal peristalsis in patients with diffuse esophageal spasm may be explained as denervation supersensitivity.