Abstract
Esophageal transmural potential difference (PD) was measured from mucosa to subcutaneous tissue (scarified skin) simultaneously with esophageal motility studies in 23 normal volunteers, 10 patients with proven and 6 patients with suspected esophagitis, 3 patients with Barrett's epithelium and 8 patients with carcinoma of the esophagus. Of 23 normal subjects, 19 demonstrated a steady PD (baseline) along the body of the esophagus with 7 mV or less deflection from highest to lowest PD. The 10 patients with endoscopically proven esophagitis had abnormal tracings. Of the 6 patients who had esophageal hyperemia and symptoms of esophagitis, but no endoscopic or histologic evidence of inflammation, 4 had almost normal PD configurations. The 3 patients with Barrett's epithelium and all 8 patients with carcinoma had abnormal tracings. Esophageal PD can be easily measured simultaneously with motility studies and can be used to demonstrate esophageal mucosal lesions, but the pathologic nature of the mucosal abnormality cannot be determined from the configuration of the PD tracing.
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Supported by Grant No. 223 from the Ontario Cancer Treatment and Research Foundation.
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Vidins, E.I., Fox, J.A.E. & Beck, I.T. Transmural potential difference (PD) in the body of the esophagus in patients with esophagitis, Barrett's epithelium and carcinoma of the esophagus. Digest Dis Sci 16, 991–999 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02235011
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02235011