Achalasia

Achalasia is characterized by peristaltic failure and incomplete relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter. The incidence and prevalence of achalasia increase with age, although achalasia can affect all age groups. The pathophysiology of achalasia involves the loss of inhibitory ganglion cells in...

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Main Authors: Kwangbeom Park, Kee Wook Jung
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Korean College of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research 2022-09-01
Series:The Korean Journal of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research
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Online Access:http://www.helicojournal.org/upload/pdf/kjhugr-2022-0019.pdf
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author Kwangbeom Park
Kee Wook Jung
author_facet Kwangbeom Park
Kee Wook Jung
author_sort Kwangbeom Park
collection DOAJ
description Achalasia is characterized by peristaltic failure and incomplete relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter. The incidence and prevalence of achalasia increase with age, although achalasia can affect all age groups. The pathophysiology of achalasia involves the loss of inhibitory ganglion cells in the myenteric plexus of the esophagus. Its main symptoms include dysphagia, chest pain, regurgitation, and weight loss. The method of diagnosing achalasia has evolved from conventional manometry in the 1970s to high-resolution manometry in the 2010s. High-resolution manometry based on spatiotemporal plots can diagnose achalasia more precisely than conventional manometry. Moreover, novel parameters such as integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) (according to the Chicago classification) have increased diagnostic accuracy. However, cases of achalasia presenting with normal IRP have been reported. Therefore, the novel Chicago classification version 4.0 has adopted additional tests. These tests include the stress test for esophageal motor disorders, timed barium esophagography, and test using a functional lumen imaging probe that measures the distensibility of the esophagogastric junction. Achalasia was previously treated using surgical myotomy, balloon dilation, and botulinum toxin injection. However, peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has recently become the mainstay treatment. POEM has a higher clinical success rate and a lower complication rate than surgical myotomy. Esophageal cancer and pulmonary conditions such as aspiration pneumonia are possible complications of achalasia. In this review, the current knowledge regarding achalasia together with novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies are discussed.
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spelling doaj-art-1cdf0fb789d6448a878cb5eee7e312df2025-08-20T03:33:07ZengKorean College of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal ResearchThe Korean Journal of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research1738-33312022-09-0122320521310.7704/kjhugr.2022.0019738AchalasiaKwangbeom Park0Kee Wook Jung1Department of Gastroenterology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, KoreaDepartment of Gastroenterology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, KoreaAchalasia is characterized by peristaltic failure and incomplete relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter. The incidence and prevalence of achalasia increase with age, although achalasia can affect all age groups. The pathophysiology of achalasia involves the loss of inhibitory ganglion cells in the myenteric plexus of the esophagus. Its main symptoms include dysphagia, chest pain, regurgitation, and weight loss. The method of diagnosing achalasia has evolved from conventional manometry in the 1970s to high-resolution manometry in the 2010s. High-resolution manometry based on spatiotemporal plots can diagnose achalasia more precisely than conventional manometry. Moreover, novel parameters such as integrated relaxation pressure (IRP) (according to the Chicago classification) have increased diagnostic accuracy. However, cases of achalasia presenting with normal IRP have been reported. Therefore, the novel Chicago classification version 4.0 has adopted additional tests. These tests include the stress test for esophageal motor disorders, timed barium esophagography, and test using a functional lumen imaging probe that measures the distensibility of the esophagogastric junction. Achalasia was previously treated using surgical myotomy, balloon dilation, and botulinum toxin injection. However, peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) has recently become the mainstay treatment. POEM has a higher clinical success rate and a lower complication rate than surgical myotomy. Esophageal cancer and pulmonary conditions such as aspiration pneumonia are possible complications of achalasia. In this review, the current knowledge regarding achalasia together with novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies are discussed.http://www.helicojournal.org/upload/pdf/kjhugr-2022-0019.pdfesophageal achalasiadeglutition disordersesophageal motility disorders
spellingShingle Kwangbeom Park
Kee Wook Jung
Achalasia
The Korean Journal of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research
esophageal achalasia
deglutition disorders
esophageal motility disorders
title Achalasia
title_full Achalasia
title_fullStr Achalasia
title_full_unstemmed Achalasia
title_short Achalasia
title_sort achalasia
topic esophageal achalasia
deglutition disorders
esophageal motility disorders
url http://www.helicojournal.org/upload/pdf/kjhugr-2022-0019.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT kwangbeompark achalasia
AT keewookjung achalasia