title: Clinical characteristics and natural history of asymptomatic erosive esophagitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to investigate risk factors related to asymptomatic erosive esophagitis and the natural history of both endoscopic findings and reflux-related symptoms in subjects with asymptomatic erosive esophagitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  On a retrospective basis, data were gathered from patients with erosive esophagitis (Los Angeles classification 3A) who had undergone endoscopic follow-up at St. Vincent Hospital. Data from 313 subjects with erosive esophagitis were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most patients had mild esophagitis (grade A or B, Los Angeles classification); 198 (63.3%) had reflux symptoms, and 115 (36.7%) lacked typical or atypical symptoms. Asymptomatic erosive esophagitis was associated with non-smoking (odds ratio (OR), 2.4; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.4-3.9) and lower body mass index (body mass index (BMI); OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.0-2.4), while 26% of subjects had recurring reflux-related symptoms. Younger subjects were more likely to have reflux-related symptoms (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-smoking and lower BMI are associated with asymptomatic reflux esophagitis. Most asymptomatic subjects with erosive esophagitis remained stable and exhibited unchanged endoscopic findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. ojh@catholic.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Sung Hoon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Jung Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Sung-Goo
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D018450:Disease Progression; D004942:Esophagitis, Peptic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index