[The changes of esophageal epithelial intercellular spaces before and after omeprazole treatment in erosive esophagitis].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the changes of ultra-micro structure of esophageal epithelium in patients with erosive esophagitis before and after omeprazole treatment.


METHODS
20 patients with erosive esophagitis diagnosed with gastroscopy were enrolled. All of them were treated with omeprazole (20 mg, 2/d) for 4 weeks, then underwent gastroscopy again. Biopsies were taken from 2 cm above Z-line. All the patients completed the questionnaire about reflux symptoms before and after the treatment.


RESULTS
Before the treatment the mean, maximal and minimal intercellular spaces of esophageal epithelium were (1.14+/-0.15) microm, (1.47+/-0.15) microm and (0.85+/-0.17) microm respectively; after the treatment the mean, maximal and minimal intercellular spaces of esophageal epithelium were (0.51+/-0.18) microm, (0.72+/-0.25) microm, (0.36+/-0.15) microm respectively, with significant differences before and after the treatment (P=0.000).


CONCLUSIONS
The dilated intercellular spaces of esophageal epithelium in erosive esophagitis patients can be recovered after a short time treatment of proton pump inhibitors.
Xue
Yan
Y
Department of Gastroenterology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100083, China. xueyanby@sohu.com
Zhou
Li-ya
LY
Lin
San-ren
SR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004942:Esophagitis, Peptic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005110:Extracellular Space; D005260:Female; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D009853:Omeprazole