Cervical dysphagia is associated with gastric hyperacidity.

There is some controversy regarding the association of upper esophageal symptoms and acid gastroesophageal reflux. We carried out gastric acid analysis, 24-h esophageal pH measurement, and esophageal manometry in 150 patients with symptoms suggestive of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Of these, 22 (15%) had gastric acid hypersecretion [basal acid output level > 5 mmol/h (19 patients) or maximum acid output level > 30 mmol/h (13 patients)]. They were compared to 25 consecutive patients with normal gastric acid secretion. An incompetent lower esophageal sphincter was identified in a similar number of hypersecretors (HS) (59.1%) and normosecretors (NS) (44%). Esophageal acid exposure was more common in HS than in NS (score, 70 vs. 36.1, p < 0.05). This was reflected as a higher incidence of esophagitis in HS (67 vs. 14%, p < 0.0025). Symptoms of cervical dysphagia were present in eight of 22 HS and one of 25 NS (p = 0.009). There was no anatomical lesion on endoscopy to explain the dysphagia. Upper esophageal sphincter (UES) manometry showed normal pharyngeal pressure, resting UES pressure, and length in both groups. The mean closing UES pressure was 127 mm Hg in HS and 114 mm Hg in NS (0.1 > p > 0.05). The HS with cervical dysphagia were no different from HS without dysphagia in any respect. We conclude that patients with gastric acid hypersecretion have more acid reflux, esophagitis, and cervical dysphagia. This is not associated with demonstrable abnormality in stationary manometry. Prolonged measurement may be required to show any change.