Esophageal Mucosa Innervation in Children With Nonerosive Reflux Disease.

Abstract

Esophageal mucosa innervation in adults with nonerosive reflux disease (NERD) is more superficial compared with healthy volunteers. We delineated the esophageal mucosal innervation in pediatric NERD and controls. Distal and proximal pediatric esophageal biopsies were immunohistochemically stained with calcitonin gene-related peptide and transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1. Mucosal innervation was assessed in 18 controls (9M:9F, median age: 9 years) and 11 NERD patients (6M:5F, median age: 5 years). Calcitonin gene-related peptide positive nerve fibers were lying deep in the mucosa in both groups, P > 0.05 and did not coexpress transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1. The pediatric esophageal mucosa in NERD displays deep lying nerve fibers, in contrast to adults.