title: Reflux esophagitis in war-related sulfur mustard lung disease.
abstract: Background Sulfur mustard (SM) has acute and chronic effects on skin and mucosal surfaces. The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of esophagitis in a historical cohort of veterans who had been exposed to SM in Iran-Iraq war nearly 25 years ago.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred two veterans with dyspepsia and/or heartburn underwent esophago-gastroduodenoscopy. Of them, 52 cases had been exposed to SM and had chronic mustard lung disease. Controls included 50 veterans without SM exposure. Esophagitis was defined according to standard criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  81.6% of cases and 70.6% of controls had heart burn and/or regurgitation (p= 0.224). Esophagitis was seen in 40% of cases and 26.5% of controls (p= 0.155).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on our findings, SM exposure seems not to be associated with increased esophagitis.
authors.affiliation: 1. Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. nroshan@tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Nader
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Roushan
authors.affiliation: 2. Resident of Gastroenterology, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. zali.fateme@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Fateme
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zali
authors.affiliation: 3. Advanced Thoracic Research Center, Pulmonary and Critical Care Department, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. hrabtahi@tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Hamidreza
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abtahi
authors.affiliation: 4. Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Imam Khomeini Hospital ,Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. mehrnazasadi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mehrnaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asadi
authors.affiliation: 5. Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. rtaslimi@tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Taslimi
authors.affiliation: 6. Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. aletaha@ddrc.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Najme
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aletaha
keywords: Esophagitis; Gastroesophageal reflux; Sulfur mustard