Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic and frequently relapsing disease. The etiology of non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) remains unclear, but it has been reported to manifest histologic changes such as dilated intercellular spaces (DIS) and inflammatory cells infiltration in the esophageal mucosa. In this study, we investigated the effect of rebamipide, a mucosal protective agent, in the recurrence of symptoms in GERD patients during proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and also examined histologic changes in the esophageal mucosa of NERD patients. METHODS: A total of 139 patients with GERD including 50 patients with NERD were enrolled in this study and were treated randomly with either PPI plus rebamipide (rebamipide group) or PPI plus placebo (placebo group) during 8 weeks. We compared the change of symptom score at 8 weeks in both groups using a GERD questionnaire. In addition, we analyzed histologic findings such as DIS, inflammatory cells infiltration, and basal cell hyperplasia in the esophageal mucosa of NERD patients, and we compared the histologic changes at 8 weeks in both groups. RESULTS: After 8 weeks, the mean decreases in the total symptom score in the rebamipide group were greater than those in the placebo group in GERD patients, but not statistically significant (-4.4 ± 2.7 vs. -3.9 ± 3.1, P = 0.382). However, the proportion of at least a 50% decrease in the total symptom score in the rebamipide group was significantly higher than that in the placebo group (74.1% vs. 51.7%, P = 0.020). With regard to histologic changes in NERD patients, the severity of DIS in the rebamipide group was significantly improved compared to that in the placebo group after 8 weeks (P = 0.024), and also the lymphocytes counts were more decreased in the rebamipide group compared to the placebo group (P = 0.026). CONCLUSION: Rebamipide, a mucosal protective agent, might be helpful in attenuating the recurrence of symptoms in GERD patients. It could also improve histologic abnormalities in the esophageal mucosa of NERD patients.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
