[Manometric evaluation of esophageal motor activity during diabetes mellitus]

Intraluminal manometry was used to assess the motor activity of the oesophagus and upper (UES) and low (LES) oesophageal sphincter in 10 patients, 5 female and 5 male, average age 35.9 range 17-50, suffering from insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Non-invasive cardiovascular tests were also performed to evaluate autonomous neuropathy together with control tests of glyco-metabolic compensation (fructosamine and HbA1c). An increase in the basic tone of the UES was observed in 8 patients while in 3 this was associated with its incomplete release. Five patients evidenced aspecific motor disturbance such as spontaneous motor activity characterised by repetitive segmentary waves at times with biphasic appearance. IOS activity was within normal limits. It is considered that these disturbances may be attributable to the autonomous neuropathy that often complicates diabetes mellitus and that oesophageal motor disturbance, albeit aspecific, should be considered an early sign of autonomous neuropathy. It is therefore though that manometric oesophageal study may be considered a useful investigative tool for early evidencing of disturbances linked to autonomous neuropathy.