title: Supplementation of Los Angeles classification with esophageal mucosa index of hemoglobin can predict the treatment response of erosive reflux esophagitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We assessed whether the esophageal mucosa index of hemoglobin (IHb) could assist the Los Angeles (LA) classification in defining the severity of erosive reflux esophagitis (RE) and predicting the treatment response by esomeprazole.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five hundred twenty-four subjects (424 RE and 100 controls) with normal body mass index and hemoglobin had undergone endoscopy to confirm the RE grade by LA classification and to check the series of IHb values at every centimeter of the esophageal mucosa while withdrawing the endoscope to above the esophageal-gastric junction (EGJ). The RE cases had received esomeprazole for 8 weeks (40 mg/day) to assess the cumulative proportions of sustained symptomatic response (SSR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The IHb value at the EGJ was higher in RE patients than in controls (P < 0.001). Selecting 70 as the cutoff IHb value at the EGJ, the efficacy to define RE achieved 95.8% (406/424) sensitivity and 94% (94/100) specificity. For the patients with same the LA grade, the length of IHb value >70 above the EGJ (L-IHb70) that is greater than 4 cm correlated with a poor cumulative rate of SSR (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The IHb value >70 at the EGJ is a reliable indicator of RE. The L-IHb70 can serve as a supplementary indicator to predict the response to esomeprazole index within the same LA grade.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Medical Center, 138 Sheng Li Road, Tainan, 70428, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Hsin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Yu-Ching
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Wei-Ying
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wei-Lun
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Hsiu-Chi
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Bor-Shyang
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Sheu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D064098:Esomeprazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004942:Esophagitis, Peptic / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification* / Q000188:drug therapy; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D006454:Hemoglobins; D064098:Esomeprazole