[The lower esophageal sphincter in patients with Chagas' disease with peristalsis and aperistalsis]

The opening of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) were studied by intraluminal manometry in 23 control subjects, 10 chagasic patients with peristalsis in esophagus and 15 chagasic patients with aperistalsis in esophagus. The opening of the LES were 2,1 +/- 0,7 seconds after wet deglutitions in controls, 3,2 +/- 1,2 seconds in chagasic with peristalsis and 3,5 +/- 1,7 seconds in chagasic with aperistalsis. The duration of relaxation were 7,9 +/- 1,5 seconds in controls, 5,2 +/- 1,0 seconds in chagasic wih peristalsis and 5,9 +/- 1,3 seconds in chagasic with aperistalsis. In Chagas' disease the LES may open delay or incomplete in patients with peristalsis or aperistalsis.