title: Prevalence of minimal change lesions in patients with non-erosive reflux disease: a case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Some minimal changes (MCs) are believed to have a certain relationship with gastroesophageal reflux (GERD). Nonetheless, the individual meaning of MC is still unclear. Our aim was to compare the overall and individual prevalence of MC between patients with non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) and healthy controls (HC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve endoscopic findings in the esophagogastric junction were prospectively compared between NERD (n = 64) and control (n = 104).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall frequency of MC (≥ 1 out of 12 criteria) was higher in the NERD group (71.9%) than in the HC group (45.2%). In individual analysis, white mucosal turbidity, irregular Z-line, horizontal erosions, and mucosal protrusion of cardia were significantly more common in the NERD group compared to controls. Among them, only white mucosal turbidity was independently associated with the NERD group (OR 3.97, 95% CI 1.72-9.13). Individuals with male gender, reflux symptoms, higher height, current smoking, ethanol intake and hiatal hernia were more likely to have white mucosal turbidity compared to the group without white turbidity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MC could be a useful marker to support clinical diagnosis of GERD. White mucosal turbidity in particular might be a GERD-specific sign related to acid-induced mucosal damage.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, Hallym University Medical College, Hallym University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. jbkim87@hallym.or.kr
authors.forename: Jin Bae
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Su Rin
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Woon Geon
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Min Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hyun Joo
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Kyung Oh
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Cheol Hee
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Il Hyun
authors.initials: IH
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.forename: Gwang Ho
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Baik
authors.forename: Kyung Ho
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sea Hyub
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kae
authors.forename: Myung Seok
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hak Yang
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005753:Gastric Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000473:pathology*; D006551:Hernia, Hiatal / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking