Open AccessOesophageal motility disorders in infected immigrants with Chagas disease in a non‐endemic European area
Author(s) -
Roure Sílvia,
Valerio Lluís,
Vallès Xavier,
Morales Betty,
GarciaDiaz M Immaculada,
PedroBotet M Luisa,
Serra Jordi
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
ueg journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.667
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 2050-6414
pISSN - 2050-6406
DOI - 10.1177/2050640616630856
Subject(s) - medicine , esophageal motility disorder , chagas disease , motility , gastroenterology , disease , barium , immunology , reflux , biology , genetics , inorganic chemistry , chemistry
Background Immigration‐related new diseases pose a growing challenge for healthcare services in receptor countries. Following Latin American migration, Chagas disease has inevitably appeared in Europe. Aim To determine the prevalence and characteristics of oesophageal motility disorders in immigrants infected with Trypanosoma cruzi , using high resolution oesophageal manometry (HREM). Methods In all newly‐diagnosed cases with chronic Chagas infection referring upper digestive symptoms, a protocolized clinical evaluation and complementary tests including barium oesophagogram and HREM were carried out. As control group, 14 healthy subjects from the same endemic areas were studied with HREM. Results We included 61 patients (46 female, 15 male; age range 26–63 years). Only seven patients (11%) had a minor alteration on barium oesophagogram. By contrast, 23 (37%) patients showed an alteration in oesophageal manometry, mainly minor motility disorders (34%). Only one healthy control (7%) had a minor motility disorder at HREM ( p = 0.029 vs . patients). Conclusions Oesophageal motor disorders in infected immigrants with Chagas disease are common, and mainly characterized by a minor motility disorder that is not detected by barium oesophagogram. Hence, as well as barium oesophagogram examination, HREM should be considered, to assess oesophageal damage in this specific group of patients.