Achalasia
Basics
Description
- Primary esophageal dysmotility
- Absence of esophageal peristalsis and impaired relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES)
Epidemiology
Incidence
- 1 to 2/100,000 population/year (1)
- Age of peak incidence: 30 to 60 years
Prevalence
- 10/100,000 population (2)
- Male = female
- No racial or ethnic preference
Etiology and Pathophysiology
- Impaired inhibitory innervation of esophageal smooth muscle and the LES (3)
- Inflammatory process leading to the degeneration of ganglion cells in the myenteric plexus, resulting in the loss of inhibitory neurotransmitters: nitric oxide (NO) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)
- Etiologies (3)
- Primarily idiopathic
- May have an autoimmune, viral, or neurodegenerative component
- May be associated with certain genetic syndromes (Down and Allgrove syndrome) (3)
Risk Factors
No identifiable risk factors
General Prevention
No identifiable preventive measures
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Citation
Domino, Frank J., et al., editors. "Achalasia." 5-Minute Clinical Consult, 34th ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2026. Medicine Central, im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816837/all/Achalasia.
Achalasia. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, et al, eds. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2026. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816837/all/Achalasia. Accessed July 17, 2025.
Achalasia. (2026). In Domino, F. J., Baldor, R. A., Golding, J., & Stephens, M. B. (Eds.), 5-Minute Clinical Consult (34th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816837/all/Achalasia
Achalasia [Internet]. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, Stephens MBM, editors. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2026. [cited 2025 July 17]. Available from: https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816837/all/Achalasia.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - ELEC
T1 - Achalasia
ID - 816837
ED - Domino,Frank J,
ED - Baldor,Robert A,
ED - Golding,Jeremy,
ED - Stephens,Mark B,
BT - 5-Minute Clinical Consult, Updating
UR - https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/816837/all/Achalasia
PB - Wolters Kluwer
ET - 34
DB - Medicine Central
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -