Abstract
Of 167 patients with achalasia asked to provide details of swallowing difficulties among their 1st degree relatives, 159 completed the survey (95% response rate). A total of 1012 1st degree relatives were identified and 14 were reported to have dysphagic including 2 with reported achalasia. Review of the case notes of these 14 relatives showed, however, that in none was achalasia confirmed. Heartburn affected 54 (5%) of the relatives, an incidence similar to that in the general population. Adult achalasia apparently is not inherited in an autosomal recessive manner and that environmental factors during early life do not play an important etiological part.

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