Anxiety Increases Acid-Induced Esophageal Hyperalgesia

Abstract
Objective: Anxiety at the time of gastrointestinal injury or inflammation increases the risk of developing visceral hyperalgesia. Distal esophageal acidification induces hyperalgesia in the non-acid exposed proximal esophagus, due to the sensitization of spinal dorsal horn neurones. The objective was to determine whether anxiety influences acid-induced hyperalgesia.