[Primary esophageal motility disorders: medical treatment]

Primary esophageal motility disorders consist of a complex group of motor disturbances, affecting the characteristics of esophageal contractions, occurrence of peristalsis and lower esophageal sphincter function. The medical treatment is still challenging because of the absence, except for Achalasia, of generally agreed criteria for diagnosis and the still unresolved relationship between esophageal symptoms and some motor abnormalities. In Achalasia, the medical therapy does not constitute a main role and should be reserved to selected conditions. Current medical therapies for Diffuse Esophageal Spasm and Esophageal Chest Pain are often considered less than satisfactory, however, a better physiopathological knowledge of these conditions might produce a more appropriate therapeutic management of the patients with continual and disabling symptoms.