title: Comparison of the different characteristics of sensed reflux events among different heartburn groups.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Presently, there are no studies comparing sensed acid reflux event (SARE) characteristics among different heartburn groups. Our aim was to compare the different esophageal acid reflux characteristics of an SARE among the different heartburn groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with heartburn underwent endoscopy and pH testing and were stratified into 3 groups: erosive esophagitis (EE), nonerosive reflux disease (NERD), and functional heartburn (FH). Patients underwent esophageal pH testing using a 4-sensor pH probe, with the most distal pH sensor positioned 1 cm> lower esophageal sphincter (LES).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-two patients had EE, 15 NERD, and 13 FH (M/F: 20/2, 12/3, 5/8, mean age: 51.5+/-3.7, 50.1+/-4.2, 50.3+/-3.8, respectively). The percentage of SAREs at 1 cm>LES that had reached 16 cm>LES was significantly higher in the FH group compared with NERD and EE (P<0.05). EE demonstrated the lowest nadir during an SARE and NERD the most acid reflux events before an SARE (up to 4 h).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with FH demonstrated the most SAREs that reached the proximal esophagus. EE patients demonstrated the lowest nadir pH during an SARE and NERD patients the most acid reflux events before an SARE, as compared with the other heartburn groups.
authors.affiliation: Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, The Neuroenteric Clinical Research Group, Southern Arizona VA Health Care, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schey
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: Tomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Navarro-Rodriguez
authors.forename: Shira S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Fass
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wendel
authors.forename: Ronnie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fass
mesh_terms: D004724:Endoscopy; D050782:Esophageal pH Monitoring; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006356:Heartburn / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index