# Novel Electrical Impedance Methodology to Understand Functional Dysphagia

> **NIH NIH R56** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2023 · $682,211

## Abstract

Summary/Abstract
Dysphagia or difficulty swallowing affects 15-20% of the general population in the USA. The reason for
dysphagia remains unclear in large number of patients even after extensive testing using multiple modalities
such as endoscopy, barium swallow and esophageal manometry. The current method of measuring
esophageal peristalsis, i.e., high resolution manometry (HRM) measures only the contraction phase of
peristalsis; Chicago classification of esophageal motility disorders is based on the abnormalities in the
contraction phase of peristalsis. Measuring esophageal inhibition during peristalsis has been a challenge. From
a functional point of view, the purpose of the inhibition phase is the relaxation of circular and longitudinal
muscle so that bolus can flow through the relaxed segment with minimal resistance. The last funding period
allowed us to develop methodologies to measure the luminal CSA/esophageal distension (marker of inhibition)
from the intraluminal impedance measurements; advantage of which is that one can measure luminal
CSA/distension at closely spaced intervals along the entire length of the esophagus, relatively easily. Using
above methodology, we found abnormalities in the distension phase of esophageal peristalsis in number of
patient groups with dysphagia who have normal contraction phase of peristalsis. These patients are currently
labelled as functional dysphagia and there are no proper strategies to diagnose and treat this large group of
patients. The goals of our future studies are to determine, 1) the mechanism of poor distension of the
esophagus in patients with functional dysphagia, 2) whether pharmacologic agents that influence the
contraction phase of peristalsis have an effect on the distension phase of peristalsis in normal subjects and
patients with functional dysphagia, 3) whether poor distensibility and longitudinal muscle dysfunction seen in
patients with eosinophilic esophagitis is reversible following treatment with a newly approved biologic agent for
its treatment, 4) whether Nissen fundoplication surgery leads to poor distensibility of the esophagus, and if one
can predict which patient may develop dysphagia following surgery. Overall, we believe that continued studies
in the above direction will lead to better diagnostic and treatment strategies for dysphagia symptom.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10888503
- **Project number:** 2R56DK109376-06A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** RAVINDER K. MITTAL
- **Activity code:** R56 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $682,211
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 2016-09-15 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10888503

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10888503, Novel Electrical Impedance Methodology to Understand Functional Dysphagia (2R56DK109376-06A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10888503. Licensed CC0.

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