Endoscopic and histologic findings in Iranian patients with heartburn.
BACKGROUND
Heartburn is a common manifestation of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma, known complications of this disease, appear to be less prevalent in Asia than in Western countries. We looked for endoscopic and histologic evidence of Barrett's esophagus in Iranian patients with heartburn.


METHODS
During September 2001 to September 2003, endoscopy was done in all patients with heartburn, either lasting longer than 3 months (n=1182) or for 1-3 months but resistant to 4 weeks of omeprazole therapy (n=66). Biopsy was taken from columnar-lined mucosa above the GE junction, at 5 cm above the Z line in normal- appearing mucosa, and from any abnormal areas.


RESULTS
Of the 1248 patients (mean age 45 [SD 15.5] years, 750 men; duration of heartburn 68 [SD 87.5] months), 960 (66.5%) had erosive esophagitis and 30 (2.4%) had Barrett's esophagus, including 10 and 20 with long- and short-segment involvement, respectively. Of 134 patients with normal-appearing mucosa, 122 had histologic evidence of esophagitis.


CONCLUSIONS
Barrett's esophagus may be less common in Iran than in Western countries, despite presence of severe heartburn and erosive esophagitis.
Bafandeh
Yousef
Y
Department of Gastroenterology ,Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. y_bafandeh@yahoo.com
Esmaili
Heidar
H
Aharizad
Saeed
S
D000328:Adult; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D006356:Heartburn / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged