Gastric Acid Reflux Research Articles

Reflux of gastric juice and glue ear in children

Otitis media with effusion (glue ear) is the most frequent cause of deafness in children. We investigated the role of gastric juice reflux in this disease. We measured pepsin concentrations in middle ear effusions from children using ELISA and enzyme activity assays. 45 (83%) of 54 effusions contained pepsin/pepsinogen at concentrations of up to 1000-fold greater than those in serum. Our data suggest that reflux of gastric juice could be a major cause of glue ear in children.

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori Does Not Increase Acid Reflux in Patients with Mild to Moderate Reflux Oesophagitis

Background : A substantial minority of patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are infected with Helicobacter pylori , but there is controversy as to whether these patients should be treated for their infection. We hypothesized that H. pylori eradication increases gastro-oesophageal acid reflux in such patients with time. Methods : Thirty-five consecutive H. pylori -infected patients (16 M and 19 F) with mild or moderate reflux oesophagitis were enrolled. Twenty-four-hour intra-oesophageal ( n = 35) and intragastric ( n = 12) pH-metry was recorded before and 15 months after H. pylori eradication. Gastric biopsy specimens from the antrum and corpus were obtained from 10 consecutive patients before and 15 months after H. pylori eradication. Results : Fifteen months after eradication of H. pylori there was a significant decrease in percentage time oesophageal pH <4 in the recumbent position only ( P = 0.04). Despite a marked reduction in the severity of gastritis, there was no significant change in gastric acidity, total intra-oesophageal acid exposure or symptom score. Heartburn improved in 12, worsened in 7, and remained unchanged in 16 patients ( P = 0.36) without any significant relationship to individual changes in acid exposure ( P = 0.60). Conclusions : H. pylori eradication does not increase gastric acidity or gastrooesophageal acid reflux in patients with mild to moderate reflux oesophagitis over the first 15 months.

Investigation of esophageal inflammation induced by reflux of gastric acid or gasiro-duodesal contents

Investigation of esophageal inflammation induced by reflux of gastric acid or gasiro-duodesal contents

Investigation of esophageal inflammation induced by reflux of gastric acid or gasiro-duodesal contents

Investigation of esophageal inflammation induced by reflux of gastric acid or gasiro-duodesal contents

Doxycycline-Induced Esophageal Ulceration in the U.S. Military Service

U.S. military forces are frequently deployed with little warning to regions of the world where chloroquine-resistant malaria is endemic. Doxycycline is often used for malaria chemoprophylaxis in these environments. The use of doxycycline can be complicated by esophageal injury. Two cases of esophageal ulceration will be discussed, followed by a review of the literature. Doxycycline causes esophageal injury through a combination of drug-specific factors, the circumstances of drug administration, and individual patient conditions. Patients with dysphagia attributable to esophageal ulceration are managed by intravenous fluid support and control of gastric acid reflux until their symptoms resolve over 5 to 7 days. The risk of esophageal injury can be minimized by use of fresh capsules, drug administration in the upright position well before lying down to sleep, and drinking at least 100 ml of water after swallowing the medication.

Gastric acid reflux triggers activation of epidermal growth factor receptor gene and proliferation in injured esophageal mucosa in rats

Gastric acid reflux triggers activation of epidermal growth factor receptor gene and proliferation in injured esophageal mucosa in rats

Reflux in infants with laryngomalacia: Results of 24-hour double-probe pH monitoring

Laryngomalacia is the most common cause of stridor in children. Previous studies using barium esophagrams or single-probe esophageal pH testing have indicated that 68% to 80% of infants with laryngomalacia have reflux. A recent study in a large series of pediatric patients has shown that these 2 testing modalities are relatively insensitive in detecting reflux when compared with 24-hour double-probe pH testing. This study was undertaken to determine the incidence and frequency of reflux in children with laryngomalacia by use of 24-hour double-probe pH monitoring. Twenty-four children with endoscopically diagnosed laryngomalacia underwent 24-hour double-probe pH testing. The distal probe was placed in the lower esophagus, and the proximal probe was placed just above the cricopharyngeus immediately posterior to the larynx. All 24 (100%) children had pharyngeal acid exposure as judged by the proximal pH probe. These children had a mean of 15.21 episodes of reflux to the level of the pharynx during the 24-hour study period. In contrast, only 16 (66%) children had abnormal acid exposure as measured by the distal esophageal probe. These results indicate that essentially all children with laryngomalacia have reflux of gastric acid to the pharyngeal level. Multiple authors have documented the detrimental effects of acid and the accompanying pepsin in the larynx and tracheobronchial tree. Persistent laryngeal edema is an almost universal finding in patients with reflux to the pharyngeal level and is a common finding in children with laryngomalacia. In some patients with laryngomalacia, reflux may be the primary cause of their airway compromise, whereas in others it may be a significant cofactor exacerbating a preexisting neurologic or anatomic abnormality. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1999;120:860-4.)

Low-Dose Pantoprazole (20mg) is Effective for Treatment of Mild Reflux Oesophagitis

Aim: Reflux of gastric acid into the oesophagus plays an important role in the development of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and tolerability of pantoprazole 20 mg/day with ranitidine 300 mg/day in patients with mild GORD.

Role of esophageal body function in gastroesophageal reflux disease: implications for surgical management

Background: Effective esophageal peristalsis is a major determinant of esophageal clearance function. The relation of esophageal body function with a mechanically defective lower esophageal sphincter and the development of esophageal mucosal injury in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease is unclear. Study Design: We analyzed the relations among the manometrically determined esophageal clearance function, lower esophageal sphincter dysfunction, esophageal acid exposure, and the presence and severity of esophageal mucosal injury in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Normal values for the manometric assessment of esophageal clearance function were established in 50 normal volunteers and subsequently applied to 160 symptomatic patients with increased esophageal exposure to gastric juice and various grades of esophageal mucosal injury (no minimal surgery, esophagitis, stricture, and Barrett’s esophagus). Results: Defective clearance function was present in 47.5% of the patients; a defective lower esophageal sphincter was documented in 63.1%. Compromised esophageal clearance function was significantly more common in patients with a defective lower esophageal sphincter than in those with normal sphincter function (55% versus 33.8%). Esophageal acid exposure time and the prevalence and severity of esophageal mucosal injury were highest in patients with a defective sphincter and compromised clearance function. Conclusions: These data show that esophageal motor function deteriorates with increasing severity of mucosal injury. This appears to be due to persistent reflux of gastric juice across a mechanically defective lower esophageal sphincter. This may influence the choice and outcome of antireflux surgery. Surgical correction of a mechanically defective sphincter before the loss of esophageal body function is advocated.

Managing the Patient with Atypical Chest Pain

Since angina and heartburn can feel the same, excluding cardiac disease may be the first order of business. That done, clinical findings and laboratory tests can help identify the esophageal disturbance. Gastric acid reflux, motility disorders, and visceral nerve hypersensitivity—alone or in combination—can cause chest pain, and each may call for a different pharmacologic regimen.

The relationship between gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and dental erosion.

It is well known that acid regurgitated from the stomach into the mouth will erode teeth. Conditions such as anorexia and bulimia nervosa, chronic alcoholism and gastric disturbances cause palatal dental erosion. The common factor in these conditions is the role played by the stomach and oesophagus in the acid movement. Acid moving through the lower oesophageal sphincter into the oesophagus is described as gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR). In some patients the acid movement becomes chronic, painful and requires treatment and is termed gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). It is felt by many gastroenterologists that GORD is a failure of the anti-reflux mechanism, which is predominantly controlled by the lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS). Regurgitation is the reflux of gastric juice through the upper oesophageal sphincter and into the oral cavity. Once the acid has reached the mouth the potential exists for damage to the teeth. This paper reviews the role of GOR, GORD and regurgitation in the aetiology of dental erosion.

Reflux of Gastric Acid and Tracheal Stenosis

Reflux of Gastric Acid and Tracheal Stenosis

Esophagopharyngeal distribution of refluxed gastric acid in patients with reflux laryngitis

Background & Aims A variety of otolaryngological abnormalities have been attributed to the contact of gastroesophageal refluxate with respective structures of the aerodigestive tract. The aim of this study was to determine and compare the pharyngoesophageal distribution of gastric acid refluxate between patients with proven laryngitis attributed clinically to gastroesophageal reflux and three control groups. Methods An ambulatory 24-hour simultaneous three-site pharyngoesophageal pH monitoring technique was used to measure reflux parameters in the pharynx, proximal esophagus, and distal esophagus. Results Between-group comparison showed no significant difference in the reflux parameters in the distal esophagus between the studied groups. A significantly higher percentage of distal reflux episodes reached the proximal esophagus in the laryngitis group than in the control groups ( P < 0.01), and the number of pharyngeal reflux episodes and time of acid exposure were significantly higher in the laryngitis group than in the control groups ( P < 0.001). Conclusions Compared with normal controls and patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease, pharyngeal reflux of gastric acid is significantly more prevalent and the ratio of proximal to distal esophageal acid reflux episodes is significantly increased in patients with posterior laryngitis. Simultaneous three-site ambulatory pharyngoesophageal pH monitoring may provide supporting evidence when the diagnosis of reflux-induced aerodigestive tract lesions is considered.

Mucosal reactive oxygen species production in oesophagitis and Barrett's oesophagus.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by inflammatory cells can contribute to tissue destruction. ROS have been implicated in various gastrointestinal abnormalities, including the acid related peptic diseases. Although the development of oesophagitis and Barrett's columnar epithelium is associated with prolonged reflux of gastric acid, the exact mechanism by which tissue damage occurs is not known. To discover if ROS are involved in damage to the oesophageal mucosa, this study measured in vitro the mucosal ROS concentrations of biopsied mucosal samples taken from patients with reflux oesophagitis using luminol enhanced chemiluminescence (LECL). Mucosal biopsy specimens were taken from 83 patients: 19 with normal oesophageal mucosa (group I); 20 with macroscopic oesophagitis (group II); 20 with biopsy confirmed Barrett's epithelium without macroscopic oesophagitis (group III); and 24 with Barrett's epithelium with macroscopic oesophagitis (group IV). The mucosa from patients exhibited significantly higher LECL values than the mucosa from controls. But, there were no significant differences between groups II, III, and IV. Addition of the myeloperoxidase inhibitor, azide, or the hydrogen peroxide scavenger, catalase, to the tissue suspension caused a decrease in LECL values of 32% and 45%, respectively, suggesting that neutrophils--although important--are not the only source of mucosal LECL. These data are consistent with the proposal that ROS play an important part in the tissue injury associated with oesophagitis and Barrett's columnar epithelium.

Outcomes of antireflux therapy for the treatment of chronic laryngitis.

This study examined outcomes of antireflux and antacid treatment for the signs and symptoms of chronic laryngitis. Patients from a referral institutional practice with chronic laryngitis symptoms, without other apparent causes of laryngeal inflammation, were followed up and examined at progressive stages of antireflux treatment as a case series outcome study. The cases included unselected individuals with a diagnosis of chronic (> 3 months' duration) laryngitis. Patients with chronic throat complaints were treated with nocturnal antireflux precautions, with addition of famotidine 20 mg or omeprazole 20 mg at bedtime for patients who did not respond to antireflux precautions alone. The outcome measures were resolution of symptoms, and change in findings on telescopic laryngoscopy. Chronic throat symptoms of 93 of 182 patients (51%) responded to nocturnal antireflux precautions alone. The complaints of an additional 48 patients resolved with the addition of famotidine 20mg at bedtime to antireflux precautions (77% response). The symptoms of 34 of the remaining 41 patients responded to treatment with omeprazole 20 mg at bedtime. Therefore, symptoms of 96% of patients responded to treatment aimed at preventing reflux of gastric acid. The remaining patients with refractory symptoms had a partial response or no response or chose fundoplication. Erythema and granular mucositis were the most common laryngoscopic findings. Ulceration and granuloma formation were less common, but also responded to antireflux treatment. Some (7) patients required high doses of omeprazole or fundoplication to achieve symptomatic relief and healing of chronic inflammatory changes of the posterior larynx. Relapse of symptoms was common when treatment was stopped.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Review article: factors protecting the oesophagus against acid-mediated injury.

Reflux of gastric acid and pepsins into the lower oesophagus causes symptoms such as heartburn and nausea, and tissue injury leading to erosive oesophagitis and stricture formation. This article reviews the mechanisms involved in protecting the oesophagus against acid-mediated injury, including the role of the lower oesophageal sphincter, secondary oesophageal peristalsis and swallowed saliva. The oesophageal mucosa has inherent abilities to resist acid damage, and recent data from three laboratories suggest a secretory function with local production of bicarbonate and mucus responsive to local acidification. The evidence for these putative oesophageal defence mechanisms is discussed.

Experimental endobrachyesophagus in dogs: a model without mucosectomy

An experimental study is made to demonstrate the participation of biliopancreatic plus gastric acid reflux in the etiopathogenesis of endo-brachyesophagus. A jejunoesophagogastrostomy was performed in Beagle dogs according to the method described by Pera in rats. This operation, as well as Wendel’s plasty and a conventional gastrojejunostomy were not tolerated. Wendel’s operation using a transgastric GIA stapler plus a Jaboulay antroduodenostomy without mucosectomy was finally tolerated by the animals. Two groups were established: 10 controls (subjected to Wendel’s operation only); 16 dogs subjected to both the Wendel and Jaboulay procedures. Pre- and post-operative (1–12 months) evaluation comprised endoscopy-biopsy, 24-h pHmetry and manometry. Three dogs were sacrificed after 2–3 months, and a further three after 9–12 months. Manometry revealed the almost total disappearance of the lower esophageal sphincter. pHmetry showed a significantly longer period of time at pH>7 in the second group. Endoscopically, no changes were noted among the controls, while the second group showed Grade II-III esophagitis, with possibly metaplastic rivulets. In all specimens, and at over 3 cm from the esophagogastric junction, extensive cylindrical metaplasia was seen extending outwards from the glands. Alcian-blue stained goblet cells were observed, along with peptic ulcerations and even occasional dysplastic foci. This model demonstrates the pathogenic effect of the combined influence of the two refluxes; once standardized, it may prove useful in future therapeutic evaluations.

Use of 24 h Esophageal pH Monitoring to Demonstrate Alkaline Reflux as a Complication of Gastric Bypass Surgery

A 35-year-old female who had previously undergone a gastric stapling procedure for morbid obesity presented with a persistent nocturnal cough that was treated over a three-year period as a gastric acid reflux complication of the bypass surgery. A barium swallow demonstrated gastroesophageal reflux, but the symptoms did not resolve after treatment with omeprazole and cisapride. Twenty-four hour esophageal pH monitoring subsequently found alkaline reflux in excess of 17% of the total time, with no acid reflux demonstrated. Surgical revision of the bypass Leaving the hiatus alone corrected the reflux complication and the symptoms resolved without further treatment. The diagnostic capability of pH monitoring is illustrated in a patient with an unusual surgical complication.

Severe Reflux Esophagitis After Vertical Banded Gastroplasty for Treatment of Morbid Obesity

Herein we describe two patients with medically refractory, severe reflux esophagitis after vertical banded gastroplasty for morbid obesity. Neither patient had symptoms of reflux preoperatively. Both patients underwent conversion to a vertical Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, an operation that prevents acid and peptic reflux and maintains a weight-reducing anatomy. Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux are common (they occur in approximately 38% of patients) after vertical banded gastroplasty has been performed. Patients with unusually severe reflux may require operative management.

Three-dimensional Imaging of the Lower Esophageal Sphincter in Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

The resistance of the lower esophageal sphincter to reflux of gastric juice is determined by the integrated effects of radial pressures exerted over the entire length of the sphincter. This can be quantitated by three-dimensional computerized imaging of sphincter pressures obtained by a pullback of radially oriented pressure transducers and by calculating the volume of this image, in other words, the sphincter pressure vector volume. Validation studies showed that sphincter imaging based on a stepwise pullback of a catheter with four or eight radial side holes is superior to a rapid motorized pullback. Compared with 50 healthy volunteers, the total and abdominal sphincter pressure vector volume was lower in 150 patients with increased esophageal acid exposure (p less than 0.001) and decreased with increasing esophageal mucosal damage (p less than 0.01). Calculation of the sphincter pressure vector volume was superior to standard techniques in identifying a mechanically defective sphincter as the cause of increased esophageal acid exposure, particularly in patients without mucosal damage. The Nissen and Belsey fundoplication increased the total and intra-abdominal sphincter pressure vector volume (p less than 0.001) and normalized the three-dimensional sphincter image. Failure to do so was associated with recurrent or persistent reflux. These data indicate that three-dimensional imaging of the lower esophageal sphincter improves the identification of patients who would benefit from an antireflux procedure. Analysis of the three-dimensional sphincter pressure profile should become the standard for evaluation of the lower esophageal sphincter.