[Relationship between gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and 24 h esophageal pH measurement in patients with normal or minimally abnormal upper endoscopies].
BACKGROUND
Heartburn and regurgitation are considered highly specific symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux. A considerable number of patients with these symptoms do not have endoscopic signs of esophagitis.


OBJECTIVE
To study the relationship between gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and 24 h esophageal pH mesurement in patients with normal or near normal endoscopic findings.


METHODS
One hundred eighty six patients with persistent reflux symptoms and absence of severe endoscopic esophagitis were studied. Pathological studies of esophageal biopsies, manometry and 24 h esophageal pH measurements were performed in all.


RESULTS
Abnormal acid reflux was found in 131 patients (70%). No differences in the frequency of symptoms, gender or pathologic findings were observed between patients with or without abnormal acid reflux. However, a higher frequency of esophageal erosions and a lower resting pressure of the inferior sphincter of the esophagus was observed in patients with abnormal acid reflux.


CONCLUSIONS
Thirty percent of patients with heartburn and regurgtitation did not have abnormal acid reflux. Therefore, these symptoms are not specific for gastroesophageal reflux.
Csendes
Attila
A
Departamento de Cirugía, Hospital Clinico de la Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile. acsendes@med.uchile.cl
Rencoret
Guillermo
G
Beltran
Marcelo
M
Smok
Gladys
G
Henríquez
Ana
A
D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006356:Heartburn / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D008365:Manometry; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
Correlación entre síntomas de reflujo gastroesofágico y resultados de la pHmetría de 24 horas en pacientes con estudio endoscópico normal o levemente alterado.