[The esophageal motor pattern and the acid exposure of the distal esophagus in patients with gastroesophageal reflux].

Low-compliance standard manometry and 24-hour ambulatory pH monitoring were performed in 42 patients with typical gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) symptoms in order to assess correlations between esophageal motility pattern and pH profile. Our results show: 1) 36% of GER patients had a normal esophageal acid exposure; 2) pH profile and manometric pattern did not differ in patients with mild esophagitis from those without esophagitis; 3) low esophageal sphincter pressure in GER patients was significantly lower than in control subjects, irrespective of acid exposure; 4) the main motility disorders in the distal esophagus of reflux patients was the increased simultaneous wave rate which seemed to affect both recumbent esophageal clearance and reflux time.