Benini et al. (A-56) conducted a study to evaluate the severity of esophageal acidification in achalasia following successful dilatation of the cardias and to determine which factors are associated with pathological esophageal acidification in such patients. Twenty-two subjects, of whom seven were males; ranged in ages from 28 to 78 years. On the basis of established criteria they were classified as refluxers or nonrefluxers. The following are the acid clearancevalues (min/reflux) forthe 22 subjects:

Refluxers Nonrefluxers 8.9 2.3 30.0 0.2 23.0 0.9 6.2 8.3 11.5 0.0 0.9 0.4 2.0 0.7 3.6 0.5 1.4 0.2 0.7 17.9 2.1 0.0 Source: Data provided courtesy of Dr. Luigi Benini.