Endoscopic grading of gastroesophageal flap valve and atrophic gastritis is helpful to predict gastroesophageal reflux

Background and Aim: The endoscopic grading of the gastroesophageal flap valve (GEFV) has been suggested to be a good predictor of reflux status. Atrophic gastritis is inversely associated with reflux esophagitis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between GEFV, atrophic gastritis and gastroesophageal reflux. Methods: A total of 608 patients (252 men and 356 women; mean age 51.1 years) who underwent endoscopy, esophageal manometry and ambulatory 24‐h pH monitoring were included. GEFV was graded I through IV using Hill's classification: the GEFV was largely classified into two groups: the normal GEFV group (grades I and II) and the abnormal GEFV group (grades III and IV). Atrophic gastritis was classified into two groups by endoscopic atrophic border: closed‐type (C‐type) and open‐type (O‐type). Findings of endoscopy, esophageal manometry and ambulatory pH monitoring were compared among the groups. Results: The incidence of reflux esophagitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease was associated with an abnormal GEFV grade and was inversely associated with open‐type atrophic gastritis. The patients with a coexisting abnormal GEFV and closed‐type atrophic gastritis showed a significantly higher incidence of reflux esophagitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease than the patients with a coexisting normal GEFV and open‐type atrophic gastritis (OR, 20.6 95% CI, 6.2–68.4], 11.4 95% CI, 6.3–20.7], respectively). Conclusions: Endoscopic grading of GEFV and atrophic gastritis is simple and provides useful information on the status of gastroesophageal reflux.