[Duodenogastric reflux: validation study of its endoscopic visualization].
BACKGROUND
Duodenogastric reflux is a normal event that can be deleterious to the esophagic or gastric mucosa, depending on its magnitude, persistence, composition and gastric pH. There is not a definitive method to measure this phenomenon.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the endoscopic visualization of duodenogastric reflux with the quantitation of total bile acids in fasting gastric content (QTBA).


METHODS
The presence of duodenogastric reflux, defined as the staining of gastric walls with bile during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, was assessed in 62 patients (26 male), aged 21 to 73 years old. During the week after the endoscopy a sample of fasting gastric content was obtained to measure QTBA, using an enzymatic method.


RESULTS
Median QTBA was 0.205 mumol/gastric residue. Fourteen of 31 patients with QTBA values over the median had endoscopically visible duodenogastric reflux, whereas 1 of 31 with values below the median had visible reflux (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Endoscopic visualization of duodenogastric reflux is statistically associated to the quantitation of total bile acids in fasting gastric residue.
Sección de Gastroenterología, Hospital Guillermo Grant B, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Concepción, Chile.
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P
Ortiz
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Santibáñez
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E
Briones
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V
Marín
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A
Palma
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000032:analysis; D004383:Duodenogastric Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D005750:Gastric Juice / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D001647:Bile Acids and Salts