title: Significance of non-erosive minimal esophageal lesions in gastro-esophageal reflux disorder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Non-erosive reflux disorder, which represents more than 60% of gastro-esophageal reflux disorders, lacks objective parameters for diagnosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between non-erosive minimal lesions at the lower esophagus and gastro-esophageal reflux disorder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were asked to answer a symptom questionnaire. The endoscopic findings were either graded by LA classification or recorded as non-erosive minimal lesions. Patients with minimal lesions were treated with rabeprazole or a placebo and responses were evaluated at weeks 1 and 4.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 8 centers, 3454 patients were screened. In patients with heartburn or acid regurgitation as the most bothersome symptom, 23.7% had endoscopy negative reflux disorder, 40.1% showed minimal lesions, and 36.20% had mucosal break esophagitis. Thirty-four percent of patients with minimal lesions and 39.1% of patients with LA 'grade A' mild esophagitis reported typical reflux symptoms as their main symptom. In patients with minimal lesions, medication with rabeprazole reduced symptoms significantly at weeks 1 and 4, but not with the placebo.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with non-erosive minimal esophageal lesions had similar reflux symptoms comparable to those with mild erosive reflux esophagitis, and reflux symptoms were improved with a short-term proton pump inhibitor. Thus, non-erosive minimal esophageal lesion constitutes a great part of gastro-esophageal reflux disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Pochon CHA University, Bundang, Korea. sphong@cha.ac.kr
authors.forename: Sung-Pyo
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Pil-Won
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Seong-Gyu
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Kwang-Hyun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Sun-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.forename: Se-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kye-Sook
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Yong-Woon
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Ji-Kon
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Kwang-Hyun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Sang-Jong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Wook-Hee
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Won
authors.forename: Hyo-Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Hyung-Mee
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.forename: Min-Jung
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Yeol-Keun
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Kyung-Chul
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung-Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seon-Hwa
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Na
authors.forename: Jung-Wan
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004935:Esophageal Diseases / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D064750:Rabeprazole; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D053799:2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D064750:Rabeprazole; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases; D009853:Omeprazole