Lack of impact of therapy on extent of Barrett's esophagus in 67 patients.
Sixty-seven patients with Barrett's esophagus have been prospectively followed over an average of 36 months (range 6 to 76 months) with standardized endoscopic observation and biopsies of the length of columnar epithelium. The initial length of Barrett's epithelium ranged from 1 to 16 cm, mean 5.5 cm. Specialized columnar epithelium was present in 64 of the 67 patients. Patients were treated predominantly with H2-receptor blocker therapy to relieve symptoms. Eighty-two percent of patients had less than a 1-cm change in length per year. The mean rate of change of length was -0.093 cm per year. These results confirm in a relatively large, prospective study that standard antireflux therapy for Barrett's esophagus does not result in consistent reduction in the extent of Barrett's epithelium over a three-year interval.
Sampliner
R E
RE
Section of Gastroenterology, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson.
Garewal
H S
HS
Fennerty
M B
MB
Aickin
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D004947:Esophagus / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008787:Metoclopramide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013392:Sucralfate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D013392:Sucralfate; D008787:Metoclopramide