Effect of omeprazole on antral duodenogastric reflux in Barrett oesophagus.
BACKGROUND
The effect of long-term acid suppression therapy in Barrett oesophagus remains unknown, but the high intragastric pH generated has been shown to increase the cytotoxicity of duodenal refluxate on foregut mucosa. However, recent work suggests that duodenogastric reflux (DGR) may be reduced by omeprazole.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of omeprazole on the reflux of duodenal contents into the gastric antrum in Barrett patients and healthy subjects.


METHODS
Fifteen patients with Barrett oesophagus and 14 healthy subjects underwent oesophageal manometry followed by 24-h ambulatory oesophageal and gastric pH and gastric bilirubin monitoring. The bilirubin sensor (modified by the addition of a weighted tip to facilitate manoeuvrability) was sited in the gastric antrum under fluoroscopic control. Combined ambulatory pH and bilirubin monitoring was repeated after 2 weeks on omeprazole 20 mg b.d.


RESULTS
Changes in oesophageal acid reflux and gastric alkaline shift due to omeprazole were as expected (P < 0.001). There was no difference in total antral DGR between the Barrett and control groups (P = 0.56), and omeprazole had no significant effect on DGR in either group (P = 0.77 and 0.27, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
DGR into the antrum is of a similar level in Barrett patients and healthy controls. Omeprazole does not reduce the reflux of duodenal contents across the pylorus. Further work is required on the increased cytotoxic potential of continuing DGR in those on long-term acid suppression.
Manifold
D K
DK
Dept. of Surgery, Guy's Hospital, London, UK.
Marshall
R E
RE
Anggiansah
A
A
Owen
W J
WJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000032:analysis; D004383:Duodenogastric Reflux / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009853:Omeprazole; D001663:Bilirubin