Esophageal disorders in the etiology and pathophysiology of dyspepsia

Dyspepsia may be caused by reflux esophagitis. We evaluated the symptoms of 45 patients aged 52 +/- 14 years who had a follow-up of 1 to 5 years. Endoscopy and histology demonstrated microscopic inflammation in 14, isolated mucosal defects in 12 and severe inflammation in 19 of the 45 patients. Belching was the leading symptom in patients with microscopic and severe esophagitis, heartburn in mild esophagitis. Upper abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting were present in 31%, 24% and 22% of the patients, respectively. Thus, reflux esophagitis is frequently accompanied by symptoms of dyspepsia which resemble those of other causes of dyspepsia. In contrast, disorders of gastric and intestinal motility may be associated with esophageal motor disturbances, particularly in gastric dysrhythmia, diabetic gastroenteropathy, irritable bowel syndrome, and idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction. How much the esophagus contributes to the clinical symptomatology of dyspepsia awaits further elucidation.