title: Reflux esophagitis in patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
abstract: The incidence of ulcers of the stomach and duodenum and their response to medical therapy, in patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is well described. However, reflux esophagitis is less well recognized. In this study we determined the frequency of reflux esophagitis in 122 patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and examined their response to medical therapy. Esophageal symptoms, endoscopic abnormalities, or both were present in 61% of patients. Forty-five percent of patients had esophageal symptoms consisting of heartburn, dysphagia, or both. Forty-three percent of patients had endoscopic abnormalities of the esophagus, and 23% demonstrated moderate or severe disease. When sufficient antisecretory medication was administered to lower gastric acid secretion to less than 10 mEq/h in the last hour before the next dose of drug, 67% of the patients with reflux esophagitis responded with complete disappearance of symptoms and normalization of the endoscopic abnormalities. The other 33% of patients required an increase in medication to lower acid output to less than 5 mEq/h in 7% and less than 1 mEq/h in the other 26% to resolve symptoms and signs completely. We conclude that reflux esophagitis occurs in the majority of patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and responds well to medical therapy, although one third of patients require intensive antisecretory medication.
authors.affiliation: Digestive Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: L S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vinayek
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Frucht
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Maton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004942:Esophagitis, Peptic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015043:Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D009853:Omeprazole