Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Feb 28, 2010; 16(8): 987-991
Published online Feb 28, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i8.987
Effects of anti-hypertensive drugs on esophageal body contraction
Koichi Yoshida, Kenji Furuta, Kyoichi Adachi, Shunji Ohara, Terumi Morita, Takashi Tanimura, Shuji Nakata, Masaharu Miki, Kenji Koshino, Yoshikazu Kinoshita
Koichi Yoshida, Kenji Furuta, Shunji Ohara, Terumi Morita, Takashi Tanimura, Shuji Nakata, Masaharu Miki, Kenji Koshino, Yoshikazu Kinoshita, Second Department of Internal Medicine, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, 89-1 Enya-cho, Izumo-shi, Shimane 693-8501, Japan
Kyoichi Adachi, Department of Clinical Nursing, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, Enya-cho, Izumo-shi, Shimane 693-8501, Japan
Author contributions: Yoshida K and Furuta K contributed equally to this work; Yoshida K, Furuta K, Adachi K and Kinoshita Y designed the research; Yoshida K, Furuta K, Adachi K, Ohara S, Morita T, Tanimura T, Nakata S, Miki M, Koshino K and Kinoshita Y performed the research; Yoshida K, Furuta K, Adachi K and Kinoshita Y analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript.
Supported by The Grants-in-Aid from Science Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, No. 19590724
Correspondence to: Kenji Furuta, MD, PhD, Second Department of Internal Medicine, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, 89-1 Enya-cho, Izumo-shi, Shimane 693-8501, Japan. kfuruta@med.shimane-u.ac.jp
Telephone: +81-853-202190 Fax: +81-853-202187
Received: October 29, 2009
Revised: December 9, 2009
Accepted: December 16, 2009
Published online: February 28, 2010
Abstract

AIM: To clarify the effects of anti-hypertensive drugs on esophageal contraction and determine their possible relationship with gastro-esophageal reflux disease.

METHODS: Thirteen healthy male volunteers were enrolled. Esophageal body peristaltic contractions and lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure were measured using high resolution manometry. All subjects were randomly examined on four separate occasions following administrations of nifedipine, losartan, and atenolol, as well as without any drug administration.

RESULTS: Peristaltic contractions by the esophageal body were separated into three segments by two troughs. The peak peristaltic pressures in the mid and lower segments of the esophageal body under atenolol administration were significantly higher than those without medication in a supine position. On the other hand, peristaltic pressures under nifedipine administration were lower than those observed without drug administration. Losartan did not change esophageal body peristalsis. Atenolol elevated LES pressure and slowed peristaltic wave transition, while the effects of nifedipine were the opposite.

CONCLUSION: Among the anti-hypertensive drugs tested, atenolol enhanced esophageal motor activity, which was in contrast to nifedipine.

Keywords: Anti-hypertensive drug, High-resolution manometry, Lower esophageal sphincter, Esophageal body contraction, Calcium-channel blocker, β1 blocker