Changes in distal esophageal function in response to cooling

The effects upon esophageal motility of water at room temperature and 0 degrees C, taken as repeated small boluses and as 200-ml volumes swallowed as rapidly as possible, were compared before and after pretreatment with isosorbide denitrate 5 mg sublingually, in nine young healthy subjects and two patients with esophageal spasm. Iced water caused reduced strength, increased duration, and reduced velocity of distal esophageal contractions. It also reduced the force of lower esophageal sphincteric contraction, an effect that was more transient than that seen in the esophageal body, but it did not alter the magnitude of sphincteric relaxation. Esophageal responses in normal subjects with water at the two temperatures were not affected by isosorbide denitrate. The responses to iced water in the two patients with esophageal spasm were qualitatively similar to those in normal subjects. These findings indicate that cooling brings about a transient state of relative paralysis in the distal esophagus and lower esophageal sphincter. Taken in conjunction with other observations, they are consistent with the notion that cold-induced chest pain, whether in normal subjects or in patients with esophageal motor disorders, is related to esophageal distension.