[Changes of intercellular spaces of esophageal epithelium in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease before and after esomeprazole treatment].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the changes of dilated intercellular space (DIS) of esophageal epithelium in different subtypes of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) before and after esomeprazole treatment.


METHODS
Nineteen patients with GERD, 6 with erosive esophagitis (EE), 7 with NERD with abnormal acid exposure (NERD pH+), and 6 with NERD with normal acid exposure (NERD pH-), were treated with esomeprazole 40 mg daily for two months. During endoscopy before and after treatment, six biopsy specimens were taken from the apparently normal mucosa 3 - 5 cm above the dentate line in the esophagus to undergo HE staining and histological examination and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Fifteen normal subjects were used as controls.


RESULTS
Two months after the treatment 5 cases (83.33%) in the EE group, 6 cases (85.57%) in the NERD pH+ group, and 5 cases (83.33%) in the NERD pH- group showed a complete recovery of DIS and complete disappearance of the symptom of heartburn. Two of the left three patients who showed incomplete recovery of DIS still had heartburn.


CONCLUSIONS
A complete recovery of DIS 2 months after treatment of esomeprazole is always accompanied by resolution of heartburn symptom. No significant difference in complete recovery of DIS can be found among different GERD subgroups.
Tao
Jin
J
Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
Xiao
Ying-Lian
YL
Chen
Min-Hu
MH
Peng
Sui
S
Lin
Jin-Kun
JK
Xiong
Li-Shou
LS
Hu
Pin-Jin
PJ
D000328:Adult; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D064098:Esomeprazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D064098:Esomeprazole