[Prevalence of inflammatory changes of gastric and/or duodenal mucosa among children and youth with gastroesophageal reflux].
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of inflammatory changes of gastric and / or duodenal mucosa among children and youth with gastroesophageal reflux.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis of medical records of 143 patients aged from 2 to 18 years (mean 10.22 years), including 69 girls and 74 boys was performed. Gastroesophageal reflux was diagnosed on the basis of clinical features and 24-h oesophageal pH-metry. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was also simultaneously performed and biopsies of the antrum and duodenum were taken. Patients were divided into two age groups: group 1-36 children aged from 2 to 6 years and group II - 107 patients aged from 7 to 18 years. With regard to the intensity of gastroesophageal reflux patients were divided into two groups: A--71 patients with the percentage of time with pH < 4 between 4 and 10% and B--72 patients with the percentage of time with pH < 4 above 10%. Obtained results were analysed statistically.


RESULTS
Gastritis and/or duodenitis was observed in 121 patients (84.7%), including mild in 84 patients (69.4%), moderate in 32 patients (26.5%) and severe in 5 children (4.1%). Of these patients, 29 (20.3%) were Helicobacter pylori positive. There was no statistically significant difference between prevalence of gastritis and/or duodenitis and the degree of gastroesophageal reflux.


CONCLUSIONS
Mostly mild gastritis and/or duodenitis were observed in the majority of children and youth with gastroesophageal reflux regardless of the Helicobacter pylori status. The prevalence of gastritis and/or duodenitis does not correlate with the intensity of the gastroesophageal reflux in children and youth.
Nowak
Aleksandra
A
Katedra i Klinika Pediatrii, Alergologii i Gastroenterologii, Collegium Medicum im. L. Rydygiera, ul. M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 9, 85-094 Bydgoszcz, Poland. klped@cm.umk.pl
Brazowski
Jerzy
J
Szaflarska-Popławska
Anna
A
D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D004382:Duodenitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004386:Duodenum / Q000382:microbiology; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods; D004947:Esophagus / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology; D005756:Gastritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index