Manometric evaluation of cimetropium bromide activity in patients with the nutcracker oesophagus.

There are at present few therapeutic alternatives to calcium channel blockers for the medical treatment of patients with nutcracker oesophagus. For this reason, we evaluated by means of a low-compliance manometric system the effect of a new anticholinergic compound, cimetropium bromide (10 mg intravenously), on oesophageal variables of eight patients with nutcracker oesophagus, in a single-blind study. Eight age-matched healthy volunteers served as controls. In both patients and controls, cimetropium bromide significantly decreased lower oesophageal sphincter pressure and the distal and proximal mean contraction amplitude of the oesophageal body. Apart from an increase in pulse rate, no noteworthy side effects were observed. It is concluded that cimetropium bromide may be an effective therapeutic option in patients with nutcracker oesophagus.