title: [Relationship between gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and 24 h esophageal pH measurement in patients with normal or minimally abnormal upper endoscopies].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Cirugía, Hospital Clinico de la Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile. acsendes@med.uchile.cl
authors.forename: Attila
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Csendes
authors.forename: Guillermo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rencoret
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beltran
authors.forename: Gladys
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Smok
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Henríquez
mesh_terms: 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
vernacular_title: Correlación entre síntomas de reflujo gastroesofágico y resultados de la pHmetría de 24 horas en pacientes con estudio endoscópico normal o levemente alterado.