title: Variation of the intercellular space in the esophageal epithelium in response to hydrochloridric acid infusion in patients with erosive esophagitis.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to compare esophageal infusion with 0.1 N hydrochloric acid (HCl) to esophageal infusion with saline in patients presenting with typical gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and erosive esophagitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed on 44 prospective subjects, 29 of whom were included in the study. Eighteen patients presented with normal esophagi (Control Group "C"), nine of whom were infused with HCl and nine with saline. Eleven patients presented with erosive esophagitis (Lesion Group "L"), five of whom were infused with HCl and six with saline. Biopsies of the esophageal mucosa were collected before and after infusions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No statistically significant difference was found between the two types of infusions in terms of the dilation of the intercellular space of the esophageal epithelium, regardless of the status of the patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Response to HCl infusion cannot be used as a marker for gastroesophageal reflux disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo/SP, Brazil. ritedeschi@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Ricardo Tedeschi
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.forename: Rodrigo Schuler
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Honório
authors.forename: Elia Garcia
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Caldini
authors.forename: Claudio Lyoiti
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Marcelo Alves
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: Tomás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Navarro-Rodriguez
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000473:pathology*; D004947:Esophagus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride; D006851:Hydrochloric Acid