Alimentary TractControl of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations and reflux by the GABAB agonist baclofen in normal subjects☆
Section snippets
Subjects
Studies were performed in 20 healthy subjects (14 men and 6 women) aged 18-39 years (median, 24 years) with a mean (±SEM) weight of 72 ± 2 kg. Subjects had no gastrointestinal symptoms, no history of upper gastrointestinal surgery, or no family history of epilepsy and were not taking regular antacids or medications known to influence esophageal motor function. Each subject gave written informed consent, and the protocol was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Royal Adelaide
Results
Data on esophageal pH were available in only 17 subjects because of technical problems with the pH recording system on at least 1 of the study days in 3 subjects.
Discussion
Current pharmacological treatment of reflux disease is based on acid suppression or prokinetic agents, or both. These approaches do not address the major mechanism underlying reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus, transient LES relaxation, which is clearly the most prevalent mechanism in most patients with reflux disease, particularly those with either no mucosal breaks or with only mild erosive esophagitis who comprise the bulk of patients with reflux disease. Therefore, control of
Acknowledgements
The authors thank Dr. M. Flardh for performing the baclofen assays.
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Supported by a project grant from Astra Hässle AB (Mölndal, Sweden). Dr. Lidums was supported by a Dawes Scholarship from the Royal Adelaide Hospital.