The ring is a consequence of pill-induced esophagitis. A paucity of data either supporting or refuting the first 2 hypotheses exists. Data about the association of gastroesophageal reflux disease and rings is either inconclusive or contradictory. In some studies, the severity of symptoms has been clearly demonstrated to correlate with the luminal diameter. Dysphagia occurs predictively in patients with a luminal diameter less than 13 mm and may be variable between 13-20 mm, depending on the size and type of bolus.
Morbidity is variable.
Most episodes of dysphagia are short lived, and the intervening period between episodes may vary from weeks to months, even to years. No known racial predilection exists. Although no known predilection for a specific age group exists, most patients usually are older than 40 years at the time of presentation. Most patients present with intermittent, episodic, nonprogressive dysphagia to solids. Dysphagia to liquids usually is not present.