title: Familial aggregation of gastroesophageal reflux in patients with Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Barrett's esophagus and adenocarcinoma are complications of gastroesophageal reflux disease. The aim of this study was to look for evidence of a familial predisposition to reflux.
  
  
  METHODS
  Index patients with adenocarcinoma (n = 27), Barrett's esophagus (n = 40), and reflux esophagitis (n = 55) were recruited from tertiary care and community populations. Parents and siblings of patients (n = 243) and their spouses' relatives (n = 230) completed reflux symptom questionnaires (response rate, 86%).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Reflux symptoms were significantly more prevalent among parents and siblings of patients with adenocarcinoma (43% vs. 23%) and Barrett's esophagus (46% vs. 27%) than spouse control relatives. No significant difference was found for the reflux esophagitis group (33% vs. 29%). Reflux was more prevalent in siblings than spouses of patients with Barrett's esophagus (41% vs. 12%) and adenocarcinoma (40% vs. 6%), a difference that was not found with reflux esophagitis (24% vs. 32%). Reflux was associated with obesity, 41% vs. 28% in the nonobese; smoking, 45% vs. 31% in nonsmokers; and men, 39% vs. 27% in women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There may be a genetic predisposition to the development of reflux in families of patients with Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma. For uncomplicated reflux esophagitis, environmental factors appear more important.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Locke
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Schaid
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Slezak
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Branch
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Melton
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000150:complications*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors