Esophageal function, radiography, and dysphagia in Sjögren's syndrome

Esophageal function and anatomy were investigated with manometry, acid perfusion test, acid clearing test, and x-ray in 11 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and in 11 with secondary SS. The manometric investigation revealed minor motor differences in the SS patients as compared to 16 controls, ie, shorter peristaltic contraction time of the whole esophagus, and faster peristaltic velocity preferably in the distal part of the esophagus, while the results from the reflux tests did not differ between patients and controls. Radiographic examination revealed upper esophageal webs in 10% (2/20), and hiatal hernia in 25% (5/20). The dysphagia as reported by 73% of the patients cannot be explained by webs or impaired motor function and is regarded to be secondary to lack of saliva, making the solid bolus passage difficult.