Evaluation of esophageal function in patients with central chest pain.

Esophageal motor function test were performed in 160 patients presenting with central chest pain clinically resembling myocardial ischemia. Motor abnormalities consisting of high amplitude, long duration peristaltic waves, diffuse spasm, or simultaneous contractions were found in 63 of those patients Direct correlation of the motor patterns with chest pain was possible in fourteen patients; another fourteen patients had reproduction of their pain with intraluminal acid. Clinical criteria could not differentiate those with esophageal pain form others. Esophageal function test can help in the diagnosis of central chest pain, but they have low sensitivity.