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Published in: Drugs 5/2001

01-04-2001 | Review Article

Current Concepts on Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Treatment of Diffuse Oesophageal Spasm

Authors: Dr Martin Storr, Hans-Dieter Allescher, Meinhard Classen

Published in: Drugs | Issue 5/2001

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Abstract

Diffuse oesophageal spasm is a functional oesophageal motility disorder of unknown aetiology, which appears to be due to a disturbance of the normal pharmacological timing of propulsive contraction occurring in the oesophageal body after swallowing. The lack of pathophysiological understanding may be due to the fact that there is more than one pathophysiological pathway causing symptoms of diffuse oesophageal spasm. Barium studies, oesophageal scintigraphy and fiberoptic examination can be helpful in finding the correct diagnosis, but manometry is still the gold standard of diagnostic procedures.
Similar to other spastic oesophageal motility disorders, pharmacological treatment of diffuse oesophageal spasm includes nitrates, calcium antagonists, anticholinergics and antidepressants with varying beneficial effects. Botulinum toxin, which provides sufficient treatment as measured by symptom score and manometric patterns in patients with achalasia, was recently evaluated for the treatment of diffuse oesophageal spasm in small patient selections with promising results.
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Metadata
Title
Current Concepts on Pathophysiology, Diagnosis and Treatment of Diffuse Oesophageal Spasm
Authors
Dr Martin Storr
Hans-Dieter Allescher
Meinhard Classen
Publication date
01-04-2001
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Drugs / Issue 5/2001
Print ISSN: 0012-6667
Electronic ISSN: 1179-1950
DOI
https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-200161050-00004

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