Eckardt score
Symptom score for achalasia, used to grade severity and to judge the response to pneumatic dilatation, POEM or Heller myotomy. Each of the four symptoms scores 0 to 3, giving a total out of 12.
Eckardt score: choose all four symptoms
Scoring
| Score | Dysphagia | Regurgitation | Retrosternal pain | Weight loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | None | None | None | None |
| 1 | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Under 5 kg |
| 2 | Daily | Daily | Daily | 5 to 10 kg |
| 3 | Each meal | Each meal | Each meal | Over 10 kg |
Stage
| Total score | Stage |
|---|---|
| 0 to 1 | Stage 0 |
| 2 to 3 | Stage I |
| 4 to 6 | Stage II |
| Over 6 | Stage III |
A score of 3 or less after treatment is the usual definition of remission or treatment success. A score above 3 suggests treatment or retreatment is needed. The score is subjective and correlates only moderately with oesophageal emptying, so it is usually read alongside timed barium swallow or manometry.
Reference
Eckardt VF, Aignherr C, Bernhard G. Predictors of outcome in patients with achalasia treated by pneumatic dilation. Gastroenterology. 1992;103(6):1732-1738.