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.     

Association of body mass index with heartburn, regurgitation and esophagitis: results of the Progression of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease study

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity are believed to be risk factors for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The aim of the present study was to analyze the impact of body mass index (BMI) on the severity and frequency of reflux symptoms and esophagitis in a large cohort of reflux patients. METHODS: As part of the Progression of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (ProGERD) study, 6215 patients with clinically assessed GERD were included in the present investigation (53% male, 52 +/- 14 years; 47% female, 56 +/- 14 years). Heartburn and regurgitation symptoms were assessed using the validated Reflux Disease Questionnaire. Endoscopies were performed and patients were subsequently classified as having non-erosive or erosive disease. To examine the association between BMI, GERD symptoms, and esophagitis, odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated using logistic regression models. RESULTS: In patients with GERD, higher BMI was associated with more frequent and more severe heartburn and regurgitation, as well as with esophagitis. The effects were more pronounced for regurgitation than for heartburn. The strongest association was between obesity and severity of regurgitation symptoms (women: OR 2.11, 95%CI 1.60-2.77; men: OR 2.15, 95%CI 1.59-2.90). Obese women, but not men, had an increased risk of severe esophagitis compared to women with normal weight (OR 2.51, 95%CI 1.53-4.12). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with GERD, higher BMI was associated with more severe and more frequent reflux symptoms and esophagitis.     

Symptom Characteristics and Psychosomatic Profiles in Different Spectrum of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Background/Aims

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is diagnosed based on symptoms of heartburn and regurgitation but is a heterogeneous condition which can be subclassified according to endoscopy and esophageal reflux monitoring. The aim of this study was to identify differences in demographic characteristics and reflux symptom patterns among patients with various spectrum of GERD.

Methods

Patients having weekly heartburn or acid regurgitation were classified into four pathophysiological subgroups according to endoscopy and pH monitoring: reflux esophagitis (RE), endoscopy-negative reflux disease with pathological reflux (PR+), hypersensitive esophagus (HE), and normal acid exposure with negative symptom association (pH-).

Results

A total of 195 patients were enrolled. The numbers of patients in the subgroups were: RE, 39.0%; PR+, 20.0%; HE, 10.3%; and pH-, 30.8%. Grossly, reflux symptom patterns and relieving/exacerbating factors did not differ between subgroups. Prevalence of extraesophageal syndrome was higher in patients with PR+ than in other groups. Overlapping functional dyspepsia was common in all groups. The SCL-90-R depression score was higher in PR+ patients than in RE patients (p<0.05).

Conclusions

Demographic characteristics and reflux symptom patterns cannot differentiate pH- group from GERD subtypes. Esophageal pH monitoring could be considered for the initial evaluation of GERD in the tertiary referral setting.     

The clinical characteristics of gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients with laryngeal symptoms who are referred to gastroenterology

The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has increased recently in Asia‐Pacific countries. However, little is known about its prevalence and clinical characteristics in GERD patients with atypical symptoms in Asia. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics of GERD in patients who had laryngeal symptoms in Korea. Data were gathered retrospectively from patients who presented with atypical symptoms, such as throat discomfort, globus pharyngeus, hoarseness, and chronic cough. They underwent a 24‐hour ambulatory intraesophageal pH monitoring and filled in a validated reflux questionnaire. Overall, 128 patients (36 men and 92 women) with laryngeal symptoms were included. Of these 128, 43 patients (34%) had erosive esophagitis or pathological reflux from 24‐hour ambulatory pH monitoring, and 24 (19%) had a positive Bernstein test or positive symptom index from 24‐hour pH monitoring. Sixty‐one patients (48%) had no evidence of reflux esophagitis on upper endoscopy and pathological acid reflux on 24‐hour pH monitoring. Fifty‐six patients (44%) had weekly heartburn or regurgitation. Typical symptoms and dyspepsia were significantly more common in patients with GERD who had laryngeal symptoms than non‐GERD. Fifty‐two percent of patients had laryngeal symptoms that were associated with GERD. The presence of typical reflux symptoms and dyspepsia are risk factors for GERD in patients who present with laryngeal symptoms.     

胃食管反流病的症状评分及内镜下表现的对照研究

目的探讨用胃食管反流病（GERD）的症状评分及内镜下表现的对照研究来预测和评估是否有GERD及其程度。方法对500例有胃食管反流症状的患者按症状频率、病期与程度为评分标准进行症状评分，内镜检查是否有反流性食管炎（RE）并分级。比较症状评分与内镜分级的相关性，分析症状评分对GERD的评估价值。200例无症状体检者作为阴性对照。结果GERD症状评分与RE内镜分级呈正相关（r=0．560，P〈0．01）。RE组患者的症状评分高于非糜烂性反流病（NERD）组，RE组症状评分≥8分者有81．70％，NERD组为59．35％（P〈0．05）；RE患者烧心的程度及发作频率、反酸的发作频率与病期重于NERD。GERD组与无反流症状组内镜检查结果比较亦有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。结论症状评分是诊断GERD的一个良好的筛选项目。     

Esophageal Mucosal Sensitivity: Possible Links with Clinical Presentations in Patients with Erosive Esophagitis and Laryngopharyngeal Reflux

The goal of this study was to assess whether mucosal sensitivity is related to different combinations of symptoms and lesions in laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) and erosive esophagitis and to determine whether reflux pattern is important in the development of the symptoms and lesions of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or LPR. We conducted a prospective study of 55 unselected new patients: 27 erosive esophagitis patients and 28 LPR patients. The erosive esophagitis group had a significantly higher rate of Bernstein test positivity than the LPR group. The proportions of patients with pathologic acid reflux at the proximal and distal probe were similar in the erosive esophagitis group and in the LPR group. These results were inconsistent with the endoscopic findings. Both retrosternal heartburn and regurgitation symptoms were higher in erosive esophagitis patients. The paucity of classical GERD symptoms and lesions in LPR patients could be attributable to mucosal insensitivity but not to reflux pattern.     

Heartburn and regurgitation have different impacts on life quality of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease

AIM: To investigate the impact of heartburn and regurgitation on the quality of life among patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).METHODS: Data from patients with GERD, who were diagnosed according to the Montreal definition, were collected between January 2009 and July 2010. The enrolled patients were assigned to a heartburn or a regurgitation group, and further assigned to an erosive esophagitis (EE) or a non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) subgroup, depending on the predominant symptoms and endoscopic findings, respectively. The general demographic data, the scores of the modified Chinese version of the GERDQ and the Short-form 36 (SF-36) questionnaire scores of these groups of patients were compared.RESULTS: About 108 patients were classified in the heartburn group and 124 in the regurgitation group. The basic characteristics of the two groups were similar, except for male predominance in the regurgitation group. Patients in the heartburn group had more sleep interruptions (22.3% daily vs 4.8% daily, P = 0.021), more eating or drinking problems (27.8% daily vs 9.7% daily, P = 0.008), more work interferences (11.2% daily vs none, P = 0.011), and lower SF-36 scores (57.68 vs 64.69, P = 0.042), than patients in the regurgitation group did. Individuals with NERD in the regurgitation group had more impaired daily activities than those with EE did.CONCLUSION: GERD patients with heartburn or regurgitation predominant had similar demographics, but those with heartburn predominant had more severely impaired daily activities and lower general health scores. The NERD cases had more severely impaired daily activity and lower scores than the EE ones did.     

埃索美拉唑诊断性试验对胃食管反流病诊断价值的随机、双盲、多中心研究

目的 探讨埃索美拉唑诊断性试验对胃食管反流病(GERD)的诊断价值.方法 采用随机、双盲、多中心临床研究.选择三家消化专科治疗中心门诊有烧心或(和)反酸症状的患者作为研究对象.先行胃镜检查,将入选患者分为反流性食管炎和非糜烂性反流病,所有患者均行24 h食管pH监测,以内镜下显示反流性食管炎和(或)24 h pH监测阳性诊断为GERD.采用随机方法分别将入选患者分成治疗组和对照组,治疗组予埃索美拉唑40 mg,每天1次,对照组予安慰剂治疗,疗程均为2周.治疗前及治疗过程中,患者和医师记录烧心程度和频率.结果 完成研究者共217例(治疗组105例,对照组112例).治疗组和对照组第1周的第6、7天无症状及第2周症状完全消失比例分别为76.2%和7.1%(χ2=107.175,P=0.000),73.3%和4.5%(χ2=109.337,P=0.000).以第1周的第6、7天无症状作为埃索美拉唑诊断性试验阳性标准,治疗组的敏感性和特异性分别为87.7%和42.5%;以第2周症状完全消失作为埃索美拉唑诊断性试验阳性标准,治疗组的敏感性和特异性分别为84.6%和45.0%;以上两种判断方法的Youden指数分别为0.362和0.296.分别以症状下降至治疗前的50%、75%及100%为阳性判断标准的敏感性和特异性,分别为95.4%和32.5%,87.7%和32.5%,84.6%和45.0%.结论 埃索美拉唑诊断性试验诊断GERD的敏感性和特异性达87.7%和42.5%,对GERD诊断价值高;疗程7 d,以第6、7天无症状作为判断方法更符合经济成本-效益的原则.     

Comparison of endoscopic findings with symptom assessment systems (FSSG and QUEST) for gastroesophageal reflux disease in Japanese centres

Background and Aim: We compared endoscopic findings of the frequency scale for the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (FSSG), a written questionnaire developed in Japan, to that for the questionnaire for the diagnosis of reflux esophagitis (QUEST) for the diagnosis of reflux esophagitis. Methods: We registered 475 patients with untreated symptoms of upper abdominal pain (male/female: 252/223, average age 52.4 ± 17.8 years). Subjects were assessed first with the FSSG and QUEST questionnaires, then by endoscopy, before allocation to a gastric ulcer (GU), duodenal ulcer (DU), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or functional dyspepsia (FD) group. Results: On the basis of the endoscopic findings the diagnoses for the 475 subjects were as follows: FD 52.2%, DU 7.6%, GU 7.8%, and GERD 32.4% (Grade M 10.1%, Grade A + B 20.2%, Grade C + D 2.3%). There was no difference between the FSSG and QUEST in sensitivity, specificity or accuracy for any condition. The FSSG score rose with increasing endoscopic severity of GERD, but there was no correlation between the QUEST score and endoscopic severity. The FSSG total score was inferior to QUEST in terms of distinguishing GERD from other conditions, but when only the questions relating to reflux symptoms were used, the FSSG was able to distinguish GERD from other conditions as well as QUEST. Conclusions: The FSSG score reflects the severity of the endoscopic findings of GERD.     

Extraesophageal gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms are not more frequently associated with proximal esophageal reflux than typical GERD symptoms

Extraesophageal (EE) symptoms such as cough and throat clearing are common in patients referred for reflux testing, but are less commonly associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Patients with reflux associated EE symptoms often lack typical GERD symptoms of heartburn and regurgitation. Our aim was to compare the frequency of proximal esophageal reflux between esophageal (typical) symptoms and EE (atypical) symptoms. Combined multichannel intraluminal impedance‐pH (MII‐pH) tracings were blinded by an investigator so that symptom markers were relabeled with a number without disclosure of symptom type. We selected 40 patients with at least five reflux‐related symptom events for one of four symptoms (heartburn, regurgitation, cough, or throat clearing). A blinded investigator analyzed all 200 reflux episodes, reporting the proximal esophageal extent of the reflux for all symptoms. The percentage of symptom‐related reflux extending proximally to 17 cm above the LES was similar among all four symptom types. At least 50% of all symptoms were associated with proximal esophageal reflux to 17 cm, with regurgitation having the highest frequency at 60%. Our data indicate that EE symptoms are not more frequently associated with proximal esophageal reflux than typical esophageal symptoms.     

Gastroesophageal reflux disease in a low-income region in Turkey

OBJECTIVES: Detailed population-based data regarding the prevalence and symptom profile of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in underdeveloped and developing Caucasian countries are lacking. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and clinical spectrum of GERD in a low-income region in Turkey. METHODS: We used a previously validated reflux questionnaire, which was translated into Turkish and culturally adapted. The questionnaire was applied to 630 randomly selected participants greater than 20 yr old living in a population of 8,857 adults, with a low mean income of 75 dollars/person/month. The reliability and reproducibility of the questionnaire were calculated using the kappa statistic (test-retest). Endoscopy and/or 24-h intraesophageal pH monitoring were used to ascertain its validity in identifying patients with reflux. RESULTS: The prevalence of GERD symptoms was 10% for heartburn, 15.6% for regurgitation, and 20% for either symptom experienced at least weekly (95% CI). Heartburn and regurgitation were associated with noncardiac chest pain (37.3%), dysphagia (35.7%), dyspepsia (42.1%), odynophagia (35.7%), globus, hoarseness, cough, hiccup, nausea, vomiting, belching, and NSAID use, but not with body mass index in both frequent and occasional symptom groups. The prevalence of heartburn symptoms, but not regurgitation, increased significantly with age. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of GERD in a low-income population in Turkey was similar to that of developed countries, although with a different symptom profile, namely, a lower incidence of heartburn and a higher incidence of regurgitation and dyspepsia. These findings support the contention that there are a large number of patients worldwide in underdeveloped nations with poorly recognized and largely undertreated GERD.     

老年胃食管反流病患者临床特征分析

目的 探讨老年胃食管反流病(GERD)患者的临床特征,为临床诊断、治疗提供帮助.方法 根据GERD蒙特利尔的标准、中国胃食管反流病共识意见等,将GERD患者分为老年组(年龄≥65岁)与中青年组(年龄＜65岁);通过问卷调查,分析2组GERD患者的食管裂孔疝(HH)、食管炎(洛杉矶标准)、临床症状(反流、烧心等)、生活质量.结果 两组性别比差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).与中青年GERD患者比较:老年患者重度食管炎(LC级+LD级)比例高(P＜0.05);典型反酸、烧心症状轻(P＜0.05),食管外症状发生率高(P＜0.05);但HH发生率差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).老年患者生理功能、总体健康、活力、社会功能、精神健康、躯体生理健康总评和精神心理健康总评积分与年轻组差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05),仅生理职能、躯体疼痛、情感职能积分较中青年组高(P＜0.05).结论 老年GERD患者典型反流症状(反食、烧心)较少见,易发生重度食管炎,但老年GERD患者生活质量无明显下降.     

法莫替丁治疗反流性食管炎多中心临床观察

目的　探讨不同剂量法莫替丁 (商品名 :高舒达 )对反流性食管炎 (RE)的疗效。方法　上海地区 4家医院将 89例经内镜证实的 (洛杉矶分级A级和B级 )RE患者随机分为两组 ,A组 4 6例予以法莫替丁 2 0mg ,每日 2次 ;B组 4 3例予以双倍剂量 ,即 4 0mg ,每日 2次。分别于治疗后 2、4、6、8及 12周观察烧心、反酸、胸痛等症状疗效 ,并于 12周后复查胃镜 ,观察镜下愈合率 ,A组中 9例、B组中 10例患者分别与治疗前及治疗后进行食管 2 4hpH监测。 结果　法莫替丁治疗 2周 ,即可见症状明显改善 ,症状记分较治疗前明显下降 (P <0 .0 1) ,继续用药至第 12周 ,症状记分较第 2周亦显著下降 (P <0 .0 1) ,两组在治疗前及治疗后不同时间症状积分下降值均差异无显著性。治疗 12周时 ,A组症状消失率为 5 2 .17% ,总有效率为 84 .78% ;B组症状消失率为 4 8.83% ,总有效率为 88.37%。两组在症状消失率及有效率方面均差异无显著性 (P >0 .0 5 )。A组食管炎内镜下愈合率为 4 7.83% ,有效率为 82 .6 1% ;B组愈合率为 4 6 .5 1% ,有效率为 86 .0 5 %。两组在内镜下食管炎愈合率及有效率方面均差异无显著性(P >0 .0 5 )。食管 2 4hpH监测显示 ,法莫替丁 4 0mg ,每日 2次患者食管酸暴露次数较治疗前明显减少(P <0 .0 5 )。结论　法莫     

Prevalence of bile reflux in gastroesophageal reflux disease patients not responsive to proton pump inhibitors

AIM： To determine the prevalence and characteristics of bile reflux in gastroesophageal reflux disease （GERD） patients with persistent symptoms who are nonresponsive to medical therapy. METHODS： Sixty-five patients （40 male, 25 female; mean age, 50±7.8 years） who continued to report symptoms after 8 wk of high-dose proton pump inhibitor （PPI） therapy, as well as 18 patients with Barrett＇s esophagus, were studied. All patients filled out symptom questionnaires and underwent endoscopy, manometry and combined pH-metry and bilimetry. RESULTS： There were 4 groups of patients： 22 （26.5%） without esophagitis, 24 （28.9%） grade A-B esophagitis, 19 （22.8%） grade C-D and 18 （21.6%） Barrett＇s esophagus. Heartburn was present in 71 patients （85.5%） and regurgitation in 55 （66.2%）, with 44 （53%） reporting simultaneous heartburn and regurgitation. The prevalence of pathologic acid reflux in the groups without esophagitis and with grades A-B and C-D esophagitis was 45.4%, 66.6% and 73.6%, respectively. The prevalence of pathologic bilirubin exposure in these 3 groups was 53.3%, 75% and 78.9%, respectively. The overall prevalence of bile reflux in non-responsive patients was 68.7%. Pathologic acid and bile reflux was observed in 22.7% and 58.1% of non-esophagitic patients and esophagitic patients, respectively.CONCLUSION： The high percentage of patients poorly responsive to PPI therapy may result from poor control of duodenogastroesophageal reflux. Many patients without esophagitis have simultaneous acid and bile reflux, which increases with increasing esophagitis grade.     

A randomized, prospective, comparative, multicenter study of rabeprazole and ranitidine in the treatment of reflux esophagitis]

BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study was done to evaluate the efficacy of rabeprazole (proton-pump-inhibitor) and ranitidine (H(2)-receptor antagonist) in the symptom relief and treatment of erosive esophagitis diagnosed by endoscopy. METHODS: A total of 110 patients with typical gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms were enrolled in this multicenter study. They were randomized into rabeprazole group (53 patients) and ranitidine group (57 patients) respectively. The patients in rabeprazole group were given 10 mg of rabeprazole and ranitidine group received 300 mg of ranitidine before breakfast and dinner for 8 weeks. After the end of treatment, we evaluated the endoscopic healing rate of reflux esophagitis and symptomatic improvement. RESULTS: After 8 weeks of treatment, rabeprazole group showed significantly higher complete endoscopic cure rate than ranitidine group (86.8% [46/53] vs. 57.9% [33/57], p=0.001) and higher symptomatic improvement of heartburn (91.2% [31/34] vs. 76.2% [32/42], p=0.085), especially in the first 7 days (76.7% vs. 45.3%, p=0.008). Also, rabeprazole group showed significantly higher improvement of regurgitation symptom than ranitidine group (100% [35/35] vs. 83% [39/47], p=0.009). Both group showed no differences in the improvement of chest pain and globus sensation. All the adverse events (rabeprazole group 4 events vs. ranitidine group 3 events) were mild and there was no abnormality in laboratory test. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with GERD, rabeprazole 10 mg b.i.d. is superior to ranitidine 300 mg b.i.d. in healing of reflux esophagitis and resolving typical GERD symptoms. Rabeprazole is an effective and well-tolerated drug for GERD treatment.     

Barrett食管、反流性食管炎和非糜烂性胃食管反流病的反流物特点

目的应用食管24 h pH-阻抗(MII-pH)等检查方法,分析具有胃食管反流病(GERD)典型症状、并且食管MII-pH检查结果异常的GERD患者,比较分析其各亚型,即Barrett食管(BE)、反流性食管炎(RE)和非糜烂性胃食管反流病(NERD)患者的胃食管反流特点。 方法入选具有典型胃食管反流症状(烧心/反流),并且食管24 h MII-pH检查结果异常的GERD患者,根据内镜检查结果分为BE、RE、NERD三组,收集患者24 h的食管pH-阻抗信息,应用SPSS16.0统计软件进行组间Mann Whitney检验、多因素方差分析,P< 0.05认为具有统计学差异。 结果共入组103例具有典型反流症状且MII-pH监测阳性的GERD患者,其中有15例BE患者、32例RE患者、56例NERD患者。三组患者的平均年龄、性别构成、以及BMI无显著差异性。将三组患者的各项胃食管反流指标数值进行Mann-Whitney检验,显示RE、BE患者的DeMeester评分、pH<4反流时间百分比、长反流周期数显著高于NERD患者,具有显著性差异。BE患者的反流周期数显著多于RE和NERD患者,具有显著性差异。阻抗相关指标在三组患者之间均没有统计学差异。 结论与NERD相比,酸反流对于RE和BE具有更重要的致病意义。     

Clinical characteristics and effectiveness of lansoprazole in Japanese patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and dyspepsia

Background

Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) frequently have symptoms of dyspepsia in addition to reflux symptoms. Treatment options for dyspepsia are not standardized. The aim of this study was to clarify the therapeutic effect of lansoprazole on dyspepsia in Japanese patients with GERD.

Methods

GERD patients with dyspepsia were enrolled and treated with lansoprazole 15 or 30 mg once daily for 4 weeks. Reflux and dyspeptic symptoms were assessed by questionnaires before treatment, and 2 and 4 weeks after the start of lansoprazole treatment.

Results

In the effectiveness analysis set (n = 12,653), heartburn was reported by 91.6 % of patients at study enrollment. Postprandial fullness was the most frequently reported dyspepsia symptom at the start of the study, reported by 79.0 % of enrolled patients. After 4 weeks of lansoprazole treatment, heartburn symptoms were improved in 75.7 % of patients and symptoms of postprandial fullness were improved in 68.7 % of patients. The therapeutic effect of low and high doses of lansoprazole on dyspepsia, as well as on reflux symptoms, was approximately 10 % higher in patients with endoscopy-confirmed erosive esophagitis (60.1–82.2 %), than in patients with non-erosive reflux diseases (53.0–73.3 %). Lansoprazole was well tolerated.

Conclusion

In this large-scale clinical study, lansoprazole effectively relieved dyspepsia in addition to reflux symptoms in patients with GERD.     

Symptomatic benefit 1-3 years after H. pylori eradication in ulcer patients: impact of gastroesophageal reflux disease

OBJECTIVES: Eradication of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection markedly reduces the recurrence of duodenal and gastric ulcers. However, there is little information regarding its efficacy in resolving dyspeptic symptoms in ulcer patients. The primary aim of this study was to assess the effect of eradicating H. pylori infection on dyspeptic symptoms in ulcer patients. The secondary aim was to identify predictors of symptomatic response to H. pylori eradication. METHODS: A total of 97 dyspeptic patients with active duodenal and/or gastric ulceration associated with H. pylori infection and unrelated to NSAID use had the severity and character of their dyspeptic symptoms measured before and again 1-3 yr after H. pylori eradication therapy. RESULTS: Pretreatment, the median dyspepsia score was 12 (4-16). Posttreatment, 55% of those eradicated of H. pylori had resolution of dyspepsia (score <2) compared with 18% of those not eradicated of the infection (95% CI for difference, 11-62%). Of the ulcer patients 31% had symptoms and/or endoscopic evidence of coexisting gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) at initial presentation and this influenced the symptomatic response to eradication of H. pylori. Of the 22 patients with heartburn or acid reflux as the predominant presenting symptom, but no endoscopic esophagitis, only 27% experienced resolution of dyspepsia after H. pylori eradication, compared with 68% of the 59 without those as predominant symptoms (95% CI for difference, 18-63%). Only one of the five patients with coexisting endoscopic esophagitis at initial presentation experienced resolution of dyspepsia after H. pylori eradication. Symptomatic benefit was unrelated to time lapsed since the infection was eradicated. Only three of 50 subjects developed de novo GERD symptoms after eradication of H. pylori, whereas 21 of 36 subjects experienced resolution of GERD symptoms after eradication of the infection. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial proportion of ulcer patients have symptoms and/or signs of coexisting GERD at initial presentation and this reduces the symptomatic benefit from H. pylori eradication. However, we have found no evidence that eradicating H. pylori induces de novo GERD symptoms in ulcer patients.     

反流性疾病问卷在胃食管反流病诊断中的价值

目的 探讨以反流症状为主的问卷调查(RDQ)在诊断胃食管反流病(GERD)中的价值。方法 上海、北京等10家医院多中心研究，对128例有烧心、胸骨后疼痛、反酸、反食等四种消化道症状的患者，按症状程度与发作频率为记分标准(5级记分制)，最高分可达40分，取症状6分以上为人选患者，以内镜检查有否反流性食管炎(RE)及24h食管pH检测为诊断(3ERE)的金标准，并与RDQ分值进行比较，计算出诊断GERD的临界值。结果 RDQ分值与RE严重程度呈正相关，食管pH检测异常组DeMeester积分显著高于正常组(20．18／16．84)。以RDQ分值12为临界值，Youden指数最大，ROC曲线下面积(Az)为0．71，对GERD诊断阳性符合率达88．07％，阴性符合率为68．42％，敏感度为94．12％，特异度为50．00％。结论 RDQ调查是诊断GERD的一个良好的筛选试验。     

泮托拉唑合旋覆代赭汤治疗反流性食管炎

目的：观察伴托拉唑合旋覆代赭汤治疗反流性食管炎(RE)的疗效。方法：60例经内镜证实的RE患者，随机分为两组，治疗组30例，予以伴托拉唑40mg，1次／d口服，同时服用中药旋覆代赭汤100m1，3次／d口服；对照组30例，予以奥美拉唑20mg，1次／d口服，同时服用旋覆代赭汤100m1，3次／d，疗程均为4周。两组分别记录治疗前后反酸、烧心、胸痛、胃胀等症状积分，于4周后复查内镜。结果：两组治疗后1周，烧心、反酸、胸痛、胃胀等症状积分较治疗前均明显下降(均P＜0．01)，4周后达到缓解。治疗组内镜下食管炎治愈率为80．0％，有效率为93．3％，与对照组(76．7％及90．0％)比较，差异无显著性意义(P＞0.05)。结论：国产伴托拉唑治疗RE与奥美拉唑的疗效相同。