Background/Aims High-resolution manometry (HRM) with pressure topography is used to subtype achalasia cardia, which has therapeutic implications. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical characteristics, manometric variables and treatment outcomes among the achalasia subtypes based on the HRM findings. Methods The patients who underwent HRM at the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Hyderabad between January 2008 and January 2009 were enrolled. The patients with achalasia were categorized into 3 subtypes: type I - achalasia with minimum esophageal pressurization, type Ⅱ - achalasia with esophageal compression and type Ⅲ - achalasia with spasm. The clinical and manometric variables and treatment outcomes were compared. Results Eighty-nine out of the 900 patients who underwent HRM were diagnosed as achalasia cardia. Fifty-one patients with a minimum follow-up period of 6 months were included. Types I and Ⅱ achalasia were diagnosed in 24 patients each and 3 patients were diagnosed as type Ⅲ achalasia. Dysphagia and regurgitation were the main presenting symptoms in patients with types I and Ⅱ achalasia. Patients with type Ⅲ achalasia had high basal lower esophageal sphincter pressure and maximal esophageal pressurization when compared to types I and II. Most patients underwent pneumatic dilatation (type I, 22/24; type Ⅱ, 20/24; type Ⅲ, 3/3). Patients with type Ⅱ had the best response to pneumatic dilatation (18/20, 90.0%) compared to types I (14/22, 63.3%) and Ⅲ (1/3, 33.3%). Conclusions The type Ⅱ achalasia cardia showed the best response to pneumatic dilatation. (J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2011;17:48-53)