胃食管反流病患者酸反流与食管运动功能障碍的关系

背景：异常酸反流和食管运动功能障碍与胃食管反流病（GERD）密切相关。目的：研究GERD患者的食管运动和酸反流与食管黏膜损害的关系，以及两者之间的相关性。方法：选取有反酸、烧心、胸痛等典型胃食管反流症状的患者72例行上消化道内镜检查、食管测压和24hpH监测。根据pH〈4总时间百分比〈4．5％且DeMeester计分〈14．7的标准。将食管炎患者分为生理性酸反流组（pH^-组）和病理性酸反流组（pH^＋组）。结果：内镜下食管炎组24hpH监测各项指标较无食管炎组显著增高（P〈0．05），病理性酸反流的发生率显著高于无食管炎组（P〈0．01）。两组食管测压各项指标无显著差异，食管炎组pH^＋者的食管下括约肌压力（LESP）较pH^-者显著降低，食管体部蠕动波传导速度减慢，湿咽成功率减少（P〈0．05）。结论：GERD患者食管炎的发生与酸反流密切相关，有病理性酸反流的GERD患者易见食管运动功能障碍。     

Healing of severe reflux esophagitis with PPI does not improve esophageal dysmotility

Esophageal dysmotility is frequently associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the severity of reflux esophagitis and esophageal dysmotility and evaluate the effect of prolonged treatment with proton pump inhibitor (lansoprazole 30 mg/day) on esophageal motility in patients with severe reflux esophagitis associated with esophageal motility disorder. Twelve healthy subjects (HS) and 100 patients with reflux disease were involved in the study consisting of two parts: (i) comparison of esophageal motility in HS and patients with non-eroseive reflux disease (NERD), mild esophagitis and severe esophagitis; (ii) effect of 3-6 months lansoprazole therapy on esophageal motility in 23 patients with severe esophagitis, pathologic acid reflux and esophageal peristaltic dysfunction. Results included the following. (i) Esophageal dysmotility was noted in both patients with NERD and erosive GERD. (ii) Severe esophagitis was associated with severe esophageal dysmotility. (iii) Healing of severe esophagitis did not improve esophageal dysmotility. The resting lower esophageal sphincter pressure was 3.9 mmHg (range 1.7-20) before treatment and 4.8 mmHg (range 1.2-18.3) after esophagitis healing (P = 0.23, vs. before treatment), the amplitude of distal esophageal contraction was 28.8 mmHg (range 10.9-80.6) before treatment and 33.3 mmHg (range 10.0-72.5) after esophagitis healing (P = 0.59, vs. before treatment) and the frequency of failed peristalsis was 70% (range 0-100%) before treatment and 70% (range 0-100%) after esophagitis healing (P = 0.78, vs. before treatment). Both esophageal motility disorders and acid reflux play important roles in the mechanism of GERD, especially in severe esophagitis. Esophageal dysmotility is not secondary to acid reflux and esophagitis; it should be a primary motility disorder.     

食管运动功能在重度反流性食管炎中的地位

目的　通过对重度反流性食管炎(RE)治愈前后食管体部运动功能的研究,了解食管体部运动功能在重度RE中的地位。方法　对70例胃食管反流病患者进行食管压力测定。从中筛选23例重度RE(内镜诊断为洛杉矶C和D级食管炎);且24h食管内pH监测证实为病理性酸反流;食管压力测定证实有食管体部运动障碍患者。给予兰索拉唑30mg/d治疗3~6个月至内镜下食管炎完全愈合后,再行食管压力测定,观察下食管括约肌静息压(LESP)及食管体部运动功能的变化。以湿咽成功率、食管远端收缩波幅和食管蠕动的传导速度作为食管体部运动功能的指标。结果　食管炎治愈前后,LESP[ (6 00±0 86 )mmHg比(5 10±0 87)mmHg, 1kPa=7 5mmHg, P=0 476],食管远端收缩波幅[ (34 1±4 1)mmHg比(37 2±4 0)mmHg,P=0 593]、湿咽成功率[ (33 5±6 5)%比(38 6±7 1 )%,P=0 592 ]比较差异均无统计学意义,其均值仍显著低于正常对照组。结论　治愈食管炎并不能提高LESP及改善食管体部的运动功能。食管体部运动功能障碍和酸反流是RE的重要发病机制,尤其是重度RE。     

Selection of Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease for Antireflux Surgery Based on Esophageal Manometry

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is caused by a mechanically defective lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and may be worsened by impaired esophageal peristalsis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of medical treatment depending on the function of the LES and esophageal peristalsis. We studied 128 GERD patients with mild esophagitis. Group 1 (N = 26) consisted of patients with a normal LES and normal esophageal peristalsis. Group 2 (N = 63) comprised patients with a defective LES but normal peristalsis. Patients of group 3 (N = 39) had a defective LES as well as impaired esophageal peristalsis. The patients were continuously treated with omeprazole. Clinical evaluation and endoscopy were repeated after 3, 6, and 12 months. Recurrence of GERD was diagnosed if there was relapse of heartburn and/or esophagitis. The recurrence rate was 7.7% in group 1, 38.1% in group 2 (P < 0.05) and 79.5% in group 3 (P < 0.05). In conclusion, in GERD patients with a mechanically defective LES, especially in those with deteriorated esophageal peristalsis, antireflux surgery should be considered since medical therapy reveals a high recurrence rate.     

Role of Esophageal Function Tests in Diagnosis of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Clinicians typically make the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) from the clinical findings and then prescribe acid-suppressing drugs. Endoscopy is usually done for persistent or severe symptoms. Esophageal function tests (EFTs: esophageal manometry and 24-hr pH monitoring) are generally reserved for patients who have the most severe disease, including those being considered for surgery. We hypothesized that EFTs are more accurate than symptoms and endoscopy in the diagnosis of GERD. This was a retrospective study undertaken in a university tertiary care center. Between October 1989 and November 1998, 822 patients with a clinical diagnosis of GERD (based on symptoms and endoscopic findings) were referred for EFTs. The patients were divided into two groups depending on whether the 24-hr pH monitoring score showed GERD (group A, GERD^–; group B, GERD⁺). The groups were compared with respect to the incidence and severity of symptoms, presence of a hiatal hernia on barium x-rays, presence and severity of esophagitis on endoscopy, and esophageal motility. In all, 247 patients (30%) had normal reflux scores (group A, GERD^–), and 575 patients (70%) had abnormal scores (Group B, GERD⁺). Eighty percent of group A and 88% of group B had been treated with acid-suppressing medications. The incidence of heartburn and regurgitation was similar in the two groups. Grade I–II esophagitis was diagnosed by endoscopy in 25% of group A and 35% of group B, and grade III esophagitis in 4% of group A and 11% of group B. Esophageal manometry showed that group B more often had esophageal dysmotility, consisting of a hypotensive lower esophageal sphincter and abnormal esophageal peristalsis. These data show that: (1) symptoms were unreliable for diagnosing GERD; (2) endoscopic evidence of grade I–II esophagitis was diagnostically nonspecific, and grade III was much less certain than claimed in other reports; and (3) pH monitoring identified patients with GERD and stratified them according to the severity of the disease. We conclude that esophageal manometry and pH monitoring are important in diagnosing GERD accurately. More liberal use of these tests early in patient management would avoid much improper and costly medical therapy and would help single out for special attention the patients with GERD who have the most severe disease.     

Is the Proton Pump Inhibitor Test Helpful in Patients with Laryngeal Symptoms?

Background and Objectives

The association of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and laryngeal symptoms is not clear. We aimed to examine the symptomatic and endoscopic relations between GERD and laryngeal symptoms and also to evaluate the response to a 2-week proton pump inhibitor (PPI) trial.

Methods

Seventy-two patients experiencing persistent laryngeal symptoms ≥2/week were enrolled. The laryngeal symptoms using the 1-week laryngeal symptom score (LSS) and the typical reflux symptoms including heartburn and acid regurgitation were assessed. Transnasal-esophagogastroduodenoscopy (TN-EGD) and ambulatory 24-h esophageal pH monitoring were performed. The patients were classified into a GERD group and a non-GERD group. The GERD group was defined as the cases of the presence of typical reflux symptoms and/or reflux esophagitis and/or pathologic acid exposure. Patients were treated with 30 mg of lansoprazole bid for 14 days.

Results

Thirty-nine patients (54 %) were diagnosed with GERD on the basis of typical reflux symptoms, EGD, and/or pH testing. There was no significant association between the LSS and the presence of typical reflux symptoms. Also, the presence of laryngitis was not significantly related to reflux esophagitis. The 2-week PPI trial showed no significant difference in the improvement in laryngeal symptoms between the GERD and non-GERD groups.

Conclusions

There was no significant symptomatic and endoscopic association between GERD and laryngeal symptoms. Therefore, GERD does not appear to be the sole cause of these symptoms. Additionally, a 2-week PPI trial is not long enough to be a diagnostic tool in patients with laryngeal symptoms.     

Gastroesophageal reflux disease: An Asian perspective

The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) ranges from 2.5% to 7.1% in most population‐based studies in Asia. There is evidence that GERD and its complications are rising, coinciding with a decline in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. Asian GERD patients share similar risk factors and pathophysiological mechanisms with their Western counterparts. Possible causes for the lower prevalence of GERD include less obesity and hiatus hernia, a lesser degree of esophageal dysmotility, a high prevalence of virulent strains of H. pylori, and low awareness. Owing to the lack of precise translation for ‘heartburn’ in most Asian languages, reflux symptoms are often overlooked or misinterpreted as dyspepsia or chest pain. Furthermore, a symptom‐based diagnosis with a therapeutic trial of the proton pump inhibitor (PPI) may be hampered by the high prevalence of H. pylori‐related disease. The risk stratification for prompt endoscopy, use of a locally‐validated, diagnostic symptom questionnaire, and response to H. pylori‘test and treat’ help improve the accuracy of the PPI test for diagnoses. PPI remain the gold standard treatment, and ‘on‐demand’ PPI have been shown to be a cost‐effective, long‐term treatment. The clinical course of GERD is benign in most patients in Asia. The risk of progression from non‐erosive reflux disease to erosive esophagitis is low, and treatment response to a conventional dose of PPI is generally higher. Although H. pylori eradication may lead to more resilient GERD in a subset of patients, the benefits of H. pylori eradication outweigh the risks, especially in Asian populations with a high incidence of gastric cancer.     

Saliva transit in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease

Saliva is an important factor in the neutralization of the acidity of the refluxed material that comes from the stomach to the esophagus. The impairment of saliva transit from oral cavity to distal esophagus may be one of the causes of esophagitis and symptoms in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). With the scintigraphic method, the transit of 2 mL of artificial saliva was measured in 30 patients with GERD and 26 controls. The patients with GERD had symptoms of heartburn and acid regurgitation, a 24‐hour pH monitoring with more than 4.2% of the time with pH below four, 26 with erosive esophagitis, and four with non‐erosive reflux disease. Fourteen had mild dysphagia for solid foods. Twenty‐one patients had normal esophageal manometry, and nine had ineffective esophageal motility. They were 15 men and 15 women, aged 21–61 years, mean 39 years. The control group had 14 men and 12 women, aged 19–61 years, mean 35 years. The subjects swallowed in the sitting and supine position 2 mL of artificial saliva labeled with 18 MBq of ^99mTechnetium phytate. The time of saliva transit was measured from oral cavity to esophageal‐gastric transition, from proximal esophagus to esophageal‐gastric transition, and the transit through proximal, middle, and distal esophageal body. There was no difference between patients and controls in the time for saliva to go from oral cavity to esophageal‐gastric transition, and from proximal esophagus to esophageal‐gastric transition, in the sitting and supine positions. In distal esophagus in the sitting position, the saliva transit duration was shorter in patients with GERD (3.0 ± 0.8 seconds) than in controls (7.6 ± 1.7 seconds, P = 0.03). In conclusion, the saliva transit from oral cavity to the esophageal‐gastric transition in patients with GERD has the same duration than in controls. Saliva transit through the distal esophageal body is faster in patients with GERD than controls.     

Utility of esophageal impedance in identifying dysmotility in patients with erosive esophagitis

SUMMARY. This study was intended to assess the utility of combined multiple intraluminal impedance and esophageal manometry (MII‐EM) in evaluating reflux patients and in identifying those with esophageal dysmotility. Thirteen controls and 20 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) underwent combined MII‐EM with a catheter containing four impedance‐measuring segments and four solid‐state pressure transducers. Each subject received 10 liquid and 10 viscous boluses to be swallowed. Distal esophageal contraction amplitude was significantly lower in GERD patients than in controls for viscous swallows (58.3 ± 7.3 mmHg versus 82.4 ± 4.1 mmHg, P = 0.005). Total bolus transit time was significantly slower in GERD patients than in controls for liquid swallows (P = 0.035). The percentages of complete bolus transit were significantly lower in GERD patients compared with controls (all P = 0.005). Half of GERD patients with normal EM still had abnormal bolus transit while three‐quarters of those with abnormal EM had abnormal bolus transit. MII helps identify bolus transit abnormalities not detected by conventional manometry. Combined MII‐EM is clinically useful for detecting esophageal dysmotility in patients with erosive esophagitis.     

Clinical impact of upper endoscopy in the management of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease

OBJECTIVE: Esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (EGD) is frequently performed in patients with heartburn. However, the benefit of an EGD is unclear. The objective is to determine the clinical impact of performing an EGD in the management of GERD. METHODS: Patients with alarm symptoms or persistent heartburn from primary care and gastroenterology clinics were invited to participate. Patients with known reflux complications or an EGD procedure within 3 yr were excluded. Endpoints for EGD-improving management were prospectively defined: change in medical therapy, dilating esophageal stricture, identifying Barrett's esophagus (BE), finding severe esophagitis (Hetzel-Dent grade 3 or 4), or finding cancer. RESULTS: Two hundred and six patients (59 M/147 F; median age, 48 yr) were enrolled, in which, 124 had alarm symptoms and 82 had persistent heartburn. EGD improved the overall management in 40% of patients with alarm symptoms and 29% with persistent heartburn (p= NS). Medical therapy was altered in only 5% of patients, and no cancer was identified. EGD was more likely to improve management in males with alarm symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: It was uncommon for an EGD to alter antireflux therapy. The management was improved in approximately one-third of the patients by dilating esophageal stricture, finding BE to initiate surveillance, or finding severe esophagitis. EGD should be performed when alarm symptoms are present, especially in males.     

Proton Pump Inhibitors: Effective First-Line Treatment for Management of Dyspepsia

The aim of this study was to evaluate the reasons for trial exclusion among dyspeptic patients and estimate the proportion that may have benefited from proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. Stringent inclusion criteria for enrollment in two multicenter functional dyspepsia trials included dyspepsia (predominant persistent/recurrent upper abdominal discomfort [UAD] during the prior 3 months) of at least moderate intensity during ≥30% of days during the prior 2 to 3 weeks. Exclusion criteria were mild/infrequent UAD; heartburn and UAD of equal frequency; predominant heartburn with UAD; endoscopic evidence of erosive esophagitis or Barrett’s or gastric and/or duodenal erosions (>5) or ulcers; irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); other gastrointestinal diagnoses; or other “non-categorized” disorders. Of 2,588 screened patients, 1,667 were excluded. Excluded patients by category had mild/infrequent UAD (12.5%, n=324), heartburn and UAD of equal frequency (1.1%, n=29), predominant heartburn with UAD (11.6%, n=300), endoscopic evidence of erosive esophagitis or Barrett's (6.2%, n=160), gastric and/or duodenal erosions (1.4%, n=36), gastric and/or duodenal ulcers (2.0%, n=53), IBS (7%, n=180), “other” gastrointestinal diagnoses (2.8%, n=73), or other “non-categorized” disorders (19.8%, n=512). Fifty-four percent of patients (902/1,667) had symptoms/diagnoses that would be expected to improve with PPI therapy. Individuals with IBS, “other,” or “non-categorized” disorders were considered to have symptoms unlikely to respond to PPI treatment. Empiric PPI treatment would be expected to provide symptom relief to the majority of dyspepsia sufferer who present in clinical practice. PPIs represent the best currently available therapy for acid-related disorders and should be considered the first-line management approach in patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia.     

The proton pump inhibitor test and the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease

There continues to be significant controversy related to diagnostic testing for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Symptoms of GERD may be associated with physiologic esophageal acid exposure measured by intraesophageal pH monitoring or pH-impedance monitoring, and a significant percentage of patients with abnormal esophageal acid (or weak acid) exposure have no or minimal clinical symptoms of reflux. On the other hand, endoscopic lesions are only present in a minority of GERD patients. In clinical practice, presumptive diagnosis of GERD is reasonably assumed by the substantial reduction or elimination of suspected reflux symptoms during the therapeutic trial of acid reduction therapy, the so-called proton pump inhibitor (PPI) test. We aimed to assess the optimal cutoff value and duration of this test in GERD patients with and without esophagitis. We conducted a prospective study of 544 patients, endoscopically investigated and treated for 2 weeks with PPIs at double dose, and for an additional 3 months at standard dose. The status of the patient at the end of the study was used as an independent diagnostic standard. We found esophagitis present in 55.8% and absent in 44.2% of patients (corresponding to a diagnosis of nonerosive reflux disease [NERD]). The test was positive in 89.7–97.8% of the patients according to the cutoff or duration of the test used. The sensitivity of the PPI test was excellent, ranging from 95.5 to 98.8%, whereas the specificity was poor, not exceeding 36.3%. Erosive esophagitis patients responded more favorably to the PPI test and subsequent PPI therapy compared with NERD patients. In conclusion, the PPI test is a sensitive but less specific test. Its optimal duration is 1 week, and the optimal cutoff value is a decrease of heartburn score of more than 75%. NERD patients respond less satisfactorily to PPIs, even when functional heartburn patients are excluded and only ‘true’ NERD patients are considered.     

The Value of Early Wireless Esophageal pH Monitoring in Diagnosing Functional Heartburn in Refractory Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Background and Aims

It is difficult to differentiate functional heartburn from proton pump inhibitor (PPI) failure. The aims of this study were to assess the role of early wireless esophageal pH monitoring in patients referred with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and to identify differences in the clinical spectrum among GERD subtypes.

Methods

We enrolled consecutive referred patients with suspected GERD. After endoscopy on the first visit, all underwent wireless esophageal pH monitoring when off the PPI.

Results

Two hundred thirty patients were enrolled. These patients were classified into a reflux esophagitis group (20, 8.7 %) and a normal endoscopic findings group (210, 91.3 %). Among the 210 patients in the normal endoscopic findings group, 63 (27.4 %) were diagnosed with pathological reflux, 35 (15.2 %) with hypersensitive esophagus, 87 (37.8 %) with normal acid exposure with negative symptom association, and 25 (10.9 %) with test failure. These groups did not differ in age, body mass index, smoking habit, alcohol consumption, symptom severity, quality of life, presence of atypical symptoms, overlap with irritable bowel syndrome, and the frequency of somatization, depression, and anxiety. PPI responses were evaluated in 135 patients. Fifty patients (37.0 %) were not responsive to the 4-week treatment; 26 (19.3 %) were diagnosed with refractory non-erosive gastroesophageal disease, and 24 (17.8 %) with functional heartburn. The demographics and clinical and psychological characteristics did not differ between the two groups.

Conclusions

Demographic characteristics and symptom patterns alone cannot differentiate functional heartburn from various subtypes of GERD. Wireless esophageal pH monitoring should be considered for the initial evaluation of GERD in the tertiary referral setting.     

Diagnostic and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease

We propose a diagnostic algorithm based on the evaluation of GERD symptoms, the test results with a single dose of alginate with heartburn and EGD--esophagogastroduodenoscopy data. The diagnosis of GERD with reflux esophagitis based on the endoscopic detection of characteristic changes of esophagus. Diagnostic criteria endoscopically negative forms of GERD are the presence of symptoms of concern to the patient, the absence of damage to the esophagus during EGD and rapid relief of heartburn, a single dose of alginate (alginate positive test). Drug of choice for reflux esophagitis is an PPI. Specify the role of Helicobacter pylori diagnosis, indications for eradication in patients with GERD.     

Clinically distinct characteristics in patients younger than 40 years old with non-cardiac chest pain

Background and Aim: Little is known about non‐cardiac chest pain (NCCP) in young patients. We aimed to examine the proportion of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in young patients with NCCP compared to the average‐aged NCCP patients and to evaluate their symptomatic characteristics and the clinical efficacy of a 2‐week proton pump inhibitor (PPI) trial. Methods: Ninety‐six patients with NCCP ≥ 1/week were classified into the young‐aged (≤ 40 years, n = 38) and the average‐aged groups (> 40 years, n = 58). Typical reflux symptoms were assessed. The patients were defined into a GERD group and non‐GERD group according to reflux esophagitis on esophagogastroduodenoscopy and/or pathologic acid exposure on 24‐h esophageal pH monitoring. Then the patients were treated with 30 mg of lansoprazole bid for 14 days. Results: Nine patients (23%) in the young‐aged group and 22 patients (38%) in average‐aged group were diagnosed with GERD‐related NCCP (P = 0.144). The proportion of typical reflux symptoms was higher in the GERD group compared with the non‐GERD group in both age groups. A PPI test improved symptoms in the GERD group irrespective of age, but this improvement was not observed in non‐GERD group. Conclusions: In young NCCP patients, the prevalence of GERD was relatively low compared to average‐aged NCCP, but the difference was insignificant. The PPI test was very effective in diagnosing GERD in the NCCP patients in both age groups. Therefore, in young NCCP patients, if there is a negative response to a 2‐week PPI trial, the possibility of extra‐esophageal disease origin needs to be considered.     

Influence of Radiofrequency Energy Delivery at the Gastroesophageal Junction (the Stretta Procedure) on Symptoms,Acid Exposure,and Esophageal Sensitivity to Acid Perfusion in Gastroesophagal Reflux Disease

Several studies have demonstrated that radiofrequency energy delivery at the gastroesophageal junction (the Stretta procedure) induces symptom relief in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), although improvement of acid exposure on pH monitoring was usually limited. A role for decreased esophageal sensitivity has been suggested. Our aim was to evaluate the influence of Stretta on symptoms, acid exposure, and sensitivity to esophageal acid perfusion in GERD. Thirteen patients with established proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-dependent GERD (three males; mean age, 51±10 years) participated in the study. Before and 6 months after the procedure symptom score, pH monitoring and Bernstein acid perfusion test were performed. The latter was done by infusing HCl (pH 0.1) at a rate of 6 ml/min 15 cm proximal to the gastroesophageal junction for a maximum of 30 min or until the patients experienced heartburn. Results were compared by Student’s t-test. Stretta procedure time was 51±4 min and no complications occurred. After 6 months, the symptom score was significantly improved (12.5±2.0 to 7.5±2.1; P<0.05), seven patients no longer needed daily PPI, and acid exposure was significantly decreased (11.6%±1.6% to 8.5%±1.8% of time pH<4; P<0.05). The time needed to induce heartburn during acid perfusion decreased from 9.5±2.3 to 18.1±3.4 min (P=0.01), and five patients became insensitive to 30-min acid perfusion, versus none at baseline (P=0.04). In conclusion, the Stretta procedure induces subjective improvement of GERD symptoms and decreases esophageal acid exposure. In addition, esophageal acid sensitivity is decreased 6 months after the Stretta procedure. The mechanism underlying this finding and its relevance to symptom control require further studies.     

Proton pump inhibitor resistance,the real challenge in gastro-esophageal reflux disease

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease(GERD)is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases.Although proton pump inhibitors(PPIs)represent the mainstay of treatment both for healing erosive esophagitis and for symptom relief,several studies have shown that up to 40%of GERD patients reported either partial or complete lack of response of their symptoms to a standard PPI dose once daily.Several mechanisms have been proposed as involved in PPIs resistance,including ineffective control of gastric acid secretion,esophageal hypersensitivity,ultrastructural and functional changes in the esophageal epithelium.The diagnostic evaluation of a refractory GERD patients should include an accurate clinical evaluation,upper endoscopy,esophageal manometry and ambulatory pH-impedance monitoring,which allows to discriminate non-erosive reflux disease patients from those presenting esophageal hypersensitivity or functional heartburn.Treatment has been primarily based on doubling the PPI dose or switching to another PPI.Patients with proven disease,not responding to PPI twice daily,are eligible for anti-reflux surgery.     

Effect of omeprazole on the course of associated esophagitis and laryngitis

Esophagitis has increasingly been implicated as a cause of chronic laryngitis and there is some evidence that gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is more common in patients with laryngitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether patients with esophagitis and laryngitis responded to treatment with omeprazole. Of 74 consecutive patients with endoscopically proven GERD, 21 had laryngitis. These 21 patients with associated esophagitis and chronic laryngitis were treated for 4 weeks with omeprazole 40 mg per day. After 2 weeks of treatment and at the conclusion of the study, 2 weeks later, esophagoscopy and laryngoscopy were performed and the patients responded to a questionnaire on their symptoms. The follow-up period was 1 year. Twenty-one of the 74 patients (28.4%) had esophagitis (grade I,n=12; grade II,n=9) and associated laryngitis (grade I,n=14; grade II,n=7). The severity of the esophagitis accorded with the severity of the laryngitis. After 2 weeks' treatment with omeprazole, both the esophageal and the laryngeal symptoms had improved in all 21 patients. Endoscopically, the healing rates were 62% for esophagitis and 33.3% for laryngitis. At the end of the study period, at 4 weeks, all patients were symptom-free and the esophagitis and laryngitis had healed completely. No patient suffered from drug-induced side effects. Patients with associated laryngitis and esophagitis should be given adequate anti-reflux therapy. Both the laryngeal and esophageal symptoms improved with the omeprazole treatment, suggesting that reflux was the underlying etiology.     

Belching: dyspepsia or gastroesophageal reflux disease?

OBJECTIVES: Eructation (belching) is a common symptom seen in clinical practice. Because either belching or heartburn may result from transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations, it has been proposed that belching may be a manifestation of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In this retrospective study we evaluated the prevalence of belching in dyspepsia and GERD and the relation of belching to acid reflux events documented by pH monitoring. METHODS: We examined the prevalence, frequency, and severity of belching and other GERD symptoms by use of standardized questionnaires in 180 GERD patients (group A) and 78 dyspeptic controls (group B) referred for evaluation at our institution. GERD was defined as either endoscopic esophagitis (or Barrett's esophagus) or positive DeMeester score (>14.2) on pH monitoring or both. Dyspeptic patients had normal endoscopy and pH studies. We also analyzed the relationship of belching to acid reflux events during the 24-h period of pH studies. RESULTS: Of 180 GERD patients, 132 (70%) reported belching during pH monitoring, versus 63 of 78 dyspeptic patients (80%) (p = ns). Similarly, 163 of 180 GERD patients (90%) reported heartburn versus 64 of 78 of dyspeptic patients (82%) (p = ns). Review of symptom questionnaires revealed no significant difference in belching severity between groups. However, heartburn and acid regurgitation were significantly more severe among GERD patients. There was a significantly higher correlation of both heartburn and belching with acid events in patients with GERD compared with patients with dyspepsia. In addition, although both belching and heartburn were significantly improved in patients with GERD, belching scores remained unchanged after proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy in patients with dyspepsia. CONCLUSIONS: Belching is as common and as severe in patients with dyspepsia as it is in patients with GERD. Belching and heartburn in GERD patients are more likely correlated with episodes of pathological acid reflux. Because belching cannot be clinically used as a discriminatory symptom, ambulatory pH monitoring should be considered to elucidate the relationship of belching to acid reflux in patients with dyspepsia or GERD.     

反流性食管炎、Barrett食管的食管动力学研究

目的 探讨反流性食管炎(RE)、Barrett食管(BE)的动力学改变。方法 经内镜检查3 400例患者,分 RE、BE、对照组,进行症状调查、食管测压、食管24h pH检测,并行统计学分析。结果 RE与BE组间除吞咽不适外,烧心感、反酸及胸骨后疼痛的症状评分均为RE组大于BE组,且差异有显著性意义。部分RE、BE、对照组间食管运动功能比较,食管下括约肌静息压等差异均无显著性意义。食管24 h pH检测DeMeester评分、pH<4总时间、pH<4时间的百分比等 RE、BE组高于对照组,差异有显著性意义,但RE、BE组间差别无显著性意义。结论 食管反流症状与食管黏膜的内镜下表现不一致;食管组织化生与食管运动功能间无相关。