Food-stimulated gastroesophageal sphincter pressure in patients with abnormal duodenal loop compared with controls.

The gastroesophageal sphincter pressure (GESP) was studied before, during, and after food intake in nine patients with abnormal duodenal loop (AD), six patients with a normal duodenum (controls), and seven healthy volunteers. In normal and control subjects a significant increase in GESP was observed during food intake, in contrast to a significant decrease in patients with AD. This may explain why patients with AD often develop symptoms when eating.