Impacto da pirose e regurgitação no bem-estar de indivíduos da população geral: um inquérito nacional brasileiro / Impact of heartburn and regurgitation on individuals' well-being in the general population: a brazilian national survey

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Heartburn and acid regurgitation are typical symptoms usually associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). GERD is one of the gastrointestinal diagnosis with higher prevalence worldwide, significantly impairing patients' quality of life. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze the impact of GERD-related symptoms in the Brazilian urban population. METHODS: National telephone survey with community-dwelling Brazilian individuals. Self-reported prevalence and frequency of symptoms (heartburn / regurgitation) were assessed. Individuals rated the impact of symptoms in their general well-being using a numeric scale from 1 to 10 (1 = no impact; 10 = very intense, preventing the person to eat and perform daily routine activities). Descriptive and bivariate statistical analyses were performed. RESULTS: The final sample was comprised of 1,773 subjects, 935 (52.7%) females, an average of 40 years old. The prevalence of heartburn and regurgitation in the past 6 months was 26.2% (n=466) and 11.0% (n=196), respectively. Women presented higher prevalence (heartburn n=266, 28.5% and regurgitation n=119, 12.7%) than men (n=200, 23.1% and n=78, 8.9%, respectively) (P<0.05). Heartburn in the past week was reported by 175 individuals (9.8%), while regurgitation episodes by 67 (3.8%). Absence of impact of the symptom in the overall well-being was observed for 82 subjects (17.6%) with heartburn and 18 individuals (9.2%) with regurgitation. Very intense impact was reported by 46 subjects (9.8%) with heartburn and 41 (20.9%) with regurgitation. Women's well-being was more affected than men's (mean score 5.45 vs 4.71, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Heartburn and regurgitation were frequent symptoms, women with higher prevalence. These symptoms led to a substantial impact on individuals' well-being, women being more affected.

RESUMO CONTEXTO: Pirose e regurgitação ácida são sintomas típicos usualmente relacionados à doença do refluxo gastroesofágico (DRGE). A DRGE é um dos diagnósticos gastrointestinais com maior prevalência mundial, afetando significativamente a qualidade de vida dos pacientes. OBJETIVO: Analisar o impacto de sintomas relacionados à DRGE em uma amostra da população brasileira urbana. MÉTODOS: Inquérito nacional via telefone com indivíduos brasileiros em contexto comunitário. O inquérito foi conduzido entre 6 de agosto e 12 de setembro de 2018. A prevalência autorrelatada e a frequência dos sintomas foram avaliadas. Os respondentes classificaram o impacto dos sintomas no seu bem-estar geral utilizando uma escala numérica de 1 a 10 (1 = ausência de impacto; 10 = impacto muito grave, impedindo a pessoa de comer ou realizar atividades da vida diária). Análises estatísticas descritivas e bivariadas foram conduzidas. RESULTADOS: A amostra final foi constituída por 1.773 indivíduos, 935 (52,7%) mulheres, com idade média de 40 anos. A prevalência de pirose e regurgitação nos últimos 6 meses foi de 26,2% (n=466) e 11,0% (n=196), respectivamente. Sexo feminino (pirose n=266, 28,5% e regurgitação n=119, 12,7%) apresentou prevalência mais alta do que o masculino (n=200, 23,1% e n=78, 8,9%, respectivamente) (P<0,05). Pirose na última semana foi relatada por 175 indivíduos (9,8%), enquanto episódios de regurgitação por 67 (3,8%). Ausência de impacto dos sintomas no bem-estar geral dos indivíduos foi observada para 82 respondentes (17,6%) com pirose e 18 (9,2%) daqueles com regurgitação. Impacto muito grave foi reportado por 46 (9,8%) indivíduos com pirose e 41 (20,9%) com regurgitação. Sexo feminino foi mais afetado pelos sintomas do que o masculino. CONCLUSÃO: Pirose e regurgitação foram bastante frequentes sendo o sexo feminino mais afetado. Tais sintomas levaram a impacto no bem-estar dos indivíduos, com maior prejuízo para mulheres.

Esophageal pH-impedance monitoring of reflux patterns in non-erosive reflux disease, reflux hypersensitivity and functional heartburn / 南方医科大学学报

OBJECTIVE@#To analyze the differences in reflux patterns in 24-hour esophageal pH-impedance monitoring in patients with non-erosive reflux disease (NERD), reflux hypersensitivity (RH) and functional heartburn (FH) and explore the possible mechanism of symptoms in patients with heartburn and negative endoscopic findings.@*METHODS@#Seventy-nine patients with heartburn as the main symptoms but negative endoscopic findings, including 35 with NERD, 16 with RH and 28 with FH, were enrolled in this study.All the patients underwent 24-h esophageal pH-impedance monitoring and esophagogastroscopy, and the results were compared among the 3 groups.@*RESULTS@#Acid reflux episode was significantly increased and weakly alkaline reflux episode was significantly decreased in NERD group in comparison with RH group and FH group (@*CONCLUSIONS@#Patients with NERD, RH and FH had different reflux patterns.Acid reflux is predominant in the NERD, while weakly alkaline reflux is significantly increased RH and FH.In patients with normal esophageal acid exposure but without symptoms or without recorded symptoms during esophageal pH-impedance monitoring, analysis of the total reflux episode, mixed reflux episode, proximal acid reflux episode and percentage can help in the differential diagnosis between RH and FH.

Erradicación de Helicobacter pylori en pacientes con dispepsia funcional / Helicobacter pylori eradication in patients with functional dyspepsia

La dispepsia constituye un motivo de consulta frecuente en atención primaria. A propósito de un paciente con diagnóstico de dispepsia funcional, la autora se plantea si el tratamiento de erradicación del Helicobacter pylori podría mejorar los síntomas. Luego de una búsqueda rápida se encontró evidencia que señala que el tratamiento de la infección por este germen podría ser beneficiosa para aliviar los síntomas de la dispepsia funcional a largo plazo, aunque con mayor riesgo de efectos adversos, por lo que otros tratamientos alternativos continúan siendo ser una opción válida en el manejo de los pacientes con este problema de salud. (AU)

Clinicopathologic Analysis of Proton Pump Inhibitor-Responsive Esophageal Eosinophilia in Korean Patients

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Proton pump inhibitor-responsive esophageal eosinophilia (PPI-REE) is a newly recognized form of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) that responds to PPI therapy. It remains unclear whether PPI-REE represents a subphenotype of gastroesophageal reflux disease, a subphenotype of EoE, or its own distinct entity. The aim was to evaluate the clinicopathologic features of PPI-REE. METHODS: Six patients were diagnosed with PPI-REE based on symptoms, endoscopic abnormalities, esophageal eosinophilia with > or =15 eosinophils/high-power field, and a response to PPI treatment. Symptoms and endoscopic and pathological findings were evaluated. RESULTS: The median follow-up duration was 12 months. Presenting symptoms included dysphagia, heartburn, chest pain, foreign body sensation, acid reflux, and sore throat. All patients had typical endoscopic findings of EoE such as esophageal rings, linear furrows, nodularity, and whitish plaques. Three patients had a concomitant allergic disorder, and one had reflux esophagitis. Four patients exhibited elevated serum IgE, and five had positive skin prick tests. All patients experienced symptomatic resolution within 4 weeks and histologic resolution within 8 weeks after starting PPI therapy. There was no symptomatic recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: PPI therapy induced rapid resolution of symptoms and eosinophil counts in patients with PPI-REE. Large-scale studies with long-term follow-up are warranted.

Doença do refluxo gastroesofágico / Gastroesophageal reflux disease

A doença do refluxo gastroesofágico (DRGE) é considerada uma das afecções mais prevalentes em todo o mundo, podendo comprometer de forma significativa a qualidade de vida dos pacientes. Trata-se de uma afecção crônica que se desenvolve quando o refluxo do conteúdo gástrico causa sintomas incomodativos ou complicações, sendo sintomas incomodativos aqueles definidos pelos pacientes.

Gastric reflux disease (GERD) is considered one of the most prevailing sickness in all over the world that can affect meaningfully patient?s quality of life. It?s a case of chronic sickness which is developed when reflux of gastric contents causes disturbing, that are defined by patients, or complications.

Doença do refluxo gastroesofágico / Gastroesophageal reflux disease

A doença do refluxo gastroesofágico (DRGE) é uma afecção crônica frequente na prática médica, interferindo negativamente na qualidade de vida dos pacientes. Apresenta um amplo espectro de sintomas, classificados como típicos e atípicos, sendo a pirose a principal manifestação. O tratamento inclui medidas comportamentais farmacológicas e eventualmente cirúrgicas

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common chronic condition that affects negatively the patient's quality of life. Patients with GERD can exhibit a wide variety of symptoms, both typical and atypical. Heartburn is the main clinical presentation. Treatment consists of supportive and pharmacological measures; surgery may eventually be required

La enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico: su prevalencia en dos muestras de población venezolana con referencia a la presencia de alteraciones endoscópicas y al valor de la biopsia esofágica en el diagnóstico de esta condición / Gastroesophageal reflux disease: prevalence in two samples of venezuelan population with reference to the presence of endoscopic abnormalities and value of esophageal biopsy in the diagnosis of this condition

El objetivo principal de este trabajo fue contribuir a determinar la prevalencia de la Enfermedad por Reflujo Gastroesofágico (ERGE) en nuestro país, y sus objetivos secundarios fueron la determinación del valor de la endoscopia y la biopsia de esófago en el diagnóstico de esta afección. La distribución de un cuestionario validado con elementos clínicos utilizados para el diagnóstico de ERGE entre 337 personas, de 20 a 69 años, con una edad media de 50,9, 62, 84% mujeres (grupo A) y un análisis prospectivo de 335 sujetos, de 15 a 92 años, con una edad media de 50,6, 55,49% mujeres; estudiados minuciosamente mediante historia clínica, esofagogastroduodenoscopia y biopsia de esófago (Grupo B). Se encontró que una proporción considerable de los sujetos evaluados presentaron síntomas de reflujo gastroesofágico (RGE), 65,01%en el Grupo A, 62,08% en el Grupo B, y que de 335 personas en el grupo A, 39,62% presentaron síntomas al menos una vez al mes, 19,81% por lo menos una vez a la semana y 8,57% todos los días. No se encontró una diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre los diferentes grupos de edad. La ERGE parece afectar por igual a todos los estratos de los sujetos objeto de este estudio. Similar a lo que se ha encontrado en otras muestras, la proporción de pacientes con enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico no erosiva fue superior a los que presentan enfermedad por reflujo gastroesofágico erosiva (82,70% contra 17,30%). 10% de los sujetos con hallazgos endoscópicos de esofagitis erosiva fueron asintomáticos para RGE. En el Grupo A, sólo 39,52% de los individuos con síntomas de RGE consultó a un médico por este motivo y 55,23% tomaba medicamentos, principal-mente antiácidos, sin prescripción médica. Sólo 39,90% del Grupo B asistieron a consulta por este motivo. Esto significa que aproximadamente 60% de los sujetos con síntomas de RGE no buscan atención médica, aunque, cuando los síntomas fueron más frecuentes y se hicieron presentes a diario...

The primary objective of this paper was to contribute to determine the prevalence of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) in our country, and its secondary goals were the determination of the value of conventional endoscopy and biopsy of the esophagus in the diagnosis of this condition. Two strategies were implemented: the distribution of a validated questionnaire with clinical elements used for the diagnosis of GERD b)etween 337 persons, (20-69 years old, mean age 50,9, 62,84% women (Group A) and a prospective analysis of 335 subjects (15-92 years old, mean age 50.6, 55.49% women, studied with a careful clinical record, esophagogastroduodenoscopy and biopsy of the esophagus (Group B). It was found that a considerable proportion of the subjects evaluated had symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux (GER), (65.01% in Group A, 62.08% in Group B), and that of 335 persons in Group A, 39.62% had symptoms at least one a month, 19.81% al least one a week and 8.57% every day. There was not a significant statistical difference between different groups of age. GERD seems to affect equally all the stratus of the subjects object of this study. Similar to what has been found in other series, the proportion of patients with non erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease was superior to the ones with erosive disease (82.70% vs 17.30%). 10% of subjects with endoscopic findings of erosive esophagitis were asymptomatic for GER. In Group A, only 39.52% of individuals with symptoms of GER visited a physician for this reason, and 55.23% took medications (mainly antacids) without a medical prescription. Only 39.90% from Group B consulted for this reason. It means that approximately 60% of subjects with symptoms of GER do not seek medical attention, although when the symptoms were more frequent and became present daily, 2/3 of the patients sought medical help...

Doença do refluxo gastroesofágico / Gastroesophageal reflux disease

A doença do refluxo gastroesofágico (DRGE) é uma condição que se desenvolve quando o refluxo do conteúdo procedente do estômago provoca sintomas desagradáveis e/ou complicações. O seu quadro clínico, em geral, costuma ser bastante simples, representado por pirose e/ou regurgitação (manifestações típicas). As manifestações atípicas (sintomas crônicos laríngeos, asma), entretanto, podem também se apresentar isoladamente, tornando mais difícil a suspeita diagnóstica. As manifestações clínicas da doença não são necessariamente correlacionadas com a gravidade das lesões esofágicas. A DRGE pode ser erosiva (quando erosões são visíveis ao exame endoscópico) ou não erosiva (endoscopia negativa). O exame endoscópico não apresenta sensibilidade elevada, já que em cerca de 50% das vezes as erosões não são vistas durante o procedimento. O método endoscópico permite a realização de biópsias nos casos de complicação, como o esôfago de Barrett, estenose e ulceração. A pHmetria de 24 horas é um método sensível e específico, mas apresenta alguns inconvenientes, entre os quais a incapacidade para reconhecer o refluxo duodenogástrico. Nesse sentido, a combinação da pHmetria com a impedância esofágica pode ser bastante útil. O tratamento clínico é dividido em medidas comportamentais/dietéticas (elevação da cabeceira da cama, perda de peso, suspensão do fumo, evitação de chocolate, alimentos gordurosos etc.) e farmacológicas, estas compreendendo o uso de inibidores da bomba protônica (omeprazol, lansoprazol, pantoprazol, rabeprazol e esomeprazol). As complicações da doença e os pacientes que requerem tratamento contínuo de manutenção, principalmente os mais jovens, consistem nas principais indicações cirúrgicas da DRGE. Usualmente os mais responsivos ao tratamento cirúrgico são os que melhor respondem ao tratamento clínico.

Estudo de alterações na cavidade oral em pacientes com doença do refluxo gastroesofágico / Study in oral cavity alterations in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease

RACIONAL: A doença do refluxo gastroesofágico, afecção de elevada e crescente incidência, pode se manifestar através de sintomas típicos (pirose e regurgitação) e atípicos (pulmonares, otorrinolaringológicos e bucais). OBJETIVO:Analisar as alterações na cavidade oral de pacientes com a doença do refluxo gastroesofágico. MÉTODOS: Foram estudados 100 pacientes, sendo 50 acometidos por doença do refluxo gastroesofágico (grupo 1) e 50 controles (grupo 2). Todos os pacientes foram submetidos a exame clínico oral e questionário específico, e naqueles do grupo 1, foram realizadas endoscopia digestiva alta e manometria e pHmetria esofágicas. RESULTADOS: A endoscopia digestiva alta demonstrou esofagite em todos os pacientes, sendo erosiva em 20, não-erosiva em 30 e hérnia hiatal em 38. A pressão média no esfíncter inferior do esôfago foi de 11 ± 4,8 mm Hg e no superior de 75 ± 26,5 mm Hg. Em 42 pacientes do grupo 1 (84 por cento) foi observado refluxo gastroesofágico patológico. O exame clínico oral mostrou: erosões dentárias no grupo 1: 273 faces e no grupo 2: 5; dentes cariados no grupo 1: 23 e 115 no grupo 2; abrasão no grupo 1: 58 e no grupo 2: 95; desgaste por atrito: 408 no grupo 1 e 224 no grupo 2. A face dental mais acometida foi a palatina. No grupo 1, 21 pacientes referiam queixas de aftas freqüentes, 35 sensibilidade dentária, 26 ardência bucal e 42 gosto azedo na boca. Naqueles do grupo 2 estas queixas foram observadas em menor número de pacientes. CONCLUSÕES: Os doentes com doença do refluxo gastroesofágico apresentam maior incidência de erosões dentárias, aftas, ardência bucal, sensibilidade dentária e gosto azedo que os controles e menor incidência de lesões cariosas em relação aos controles.

BACKGROUND: The gastroesophageal reflux disease, which has become highly and increasingly incident, may be manifested by typical (pyrosis and regurgitation) and atypical (pulmonary, otorhinolaryngological and buccal) symptoms. AIM: To analyze alterations in the oral cavity patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. METHODS: One hundred patients were studied being 50 gastroesophageal reflux disease patients (group 1) and 50 controls (group 2). All patients were submitted to an oral clinical exam and specific survey. Patients in group 1 were submitted to upper endoscopy, manometry and esophageal pH monitoring. RESULTS: The upper endoscopy revealed esophagitis in all patients, 20 erosive esophagitis, 30 no-erosive esophagitis and 38 hiatal hernia. Average pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter was 11 ± 4,8 mm Hg and of the upper esophageal sphincter 75 ± 26,5 mm Hg. In 42 patients of group 1 (84 percent) pathological gastroesophageal reflux was observed. Clinical exams revealed: dental erosions in group 1: 273 faces and in group 2: 5 tooth decays in group 1: 23 and 115 in group 2; abrasion in group 1: 58 and in group 2: 95; attrition wear: 408 in group 1 and 224 in group 2. The most damages was the palatine face. In group 1, 21 patients complained about frequent episodes of cankers sores, 35 of tooth sensibility, 26 of burning mouth and 42 of sour taste in the mouth. In group 2 the complaints were observed in lower number of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease present higher incidence of dental erosion, cankers sores, mouth burning sensation, sensitivity and sour taste than controls. Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease show lower incidence of tooth decays as compared to controls.

Efecto del bypass en la esofagitis erosiva en pacientes con obesidad mórbida / Effects of gastric bypass on erosive esophagitis in obese subjects

Background: Obesity is an important risk for pathological gastroesophageal reflux. Aim: To assess the effects of gastric bypass on obese subjects with erosive esophagitis. Patients and methods: Sixty two morbid obese subjects (aged 16 to 70 years, 41 females) with erosive esophagitis at the moment of surgery were studied. These patients were subjected to a gastric bypass with gastric resection. They were followed with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy every one year, looking for the presence of erosions or ulcers in the distal esophagus. Results: The mean follow up period was 21 months. Prior to surgery all patients had heartburn or regurgitation and at two years after surgery, 97% were asymptomatic. Esophagitis was found in 97 and 6.5% before and after surgery, respectively. Two patients had an esophageal ulcer, that healed on follow up endoscopy. There was a 72% reduction of overweight on late follow up. Conclusions: Gastric bypass is effective to control pathological gastroesophageal reflux in patients with morbid obesity.

Laparoscopic nissen fundoplication for management of hiatal hernia with selective use of mesh in some cases

Laparoscopic repair of hiatal hernia with selective use of mesh was carried out in 20 patients [9 men "45%" and 11 women "55%"] with the mean age 48 years, in the period from January 2002 to January 2005. The patient suffering from, heart burn, regurgitation, dysphagia, epigastric or chest pain, cough and epigastric fullness. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and barium meal studies reveal, type I: 12 cases [60%], type II: 2 cases [10%], type III: 6 cases [30%]. Laparoscopic fundoplication without use of mesh was done in 15 [75%] of cases and with use of mesh in 5 [25%] cases. The average operative time was 115 minutes. The mean hospital stay ranged from 4 to 11 days. The operation was successful in 19 [95%] patients. One [5%] case are converted to open surgery because of gastric perforation. The long term follow up reveals 4 cases [20%] complaining of heart burn and dysphagia. Two [10%] of the 4 patients developed recurrence. The aim of our work was to evaluate the accuracy of laparoscopic repair of hiatus hernia with selective use of mesh in some cases

El tiempo y el pH de desaparición de la pirosis provocada por la perfusión ácida de esófago sería un indicador de hiperalgesia / Time and pH at the moment of disappearance of pyrosis induced by means of acid perfusion might indicate hyperalgesia

Objetivos: 1) Describir y comparar las características históricas del sintoma de pirosis con prueba de perfusión ácida positiva en el grupo total y según sexos; 2) describir los resultados de los estudios (clearance ácido estánder, número de episodios de reflujo en tiempos cortos de observación, tiempo de aparición de la pirosis durante la perfusión ácida, tiempo de desapacición del síntoma y pH del esófago en el momento de la desaparición); comparación por sexos; 3) comparar las diferencias de depuraniones estándar y de episodios de reflujo entre controles y pacientes; 4) correlacionar de factores condicionantes; 5) realizar las mismas evaluaciones descriptivas y comparativas en los subgrupos con hernia hiatal (H.H.) y sin ella. Trabajo prospectivo, descriptivo y comparativo, experimental, longitudinal, ciego simple, con muestra de control. Población y muestra: 15 pacientes de control (9 hombres, mujeres) y 50 pacientes con pirosis (23 hombres, 27 mujeres). Mayores de 18 años. Con H.H. o sin ella. Equiparables (diderencias en edad y sexo, p=NS). Consecutivos. Material y metodologia: Registro de datos históricos, endoscopia alta, 3 (tres) biopsias como mínimo, número de episodios de reflujo en 30 minutos de observación, clearance ácido estánder, medición de tiempo de perfusión, tiempo de desaparición del síntoma evocado y pH en que desaparece el síntoma...

Reflujo gastroesofágico: pirosis y esofágitis péptica / Gastroesophageal reflux: pyrosis and peptic esophagitis

El reflujo gastroesofágico es muy frecuente y no genera patología cuando es aislado y ocasional. Por el contrario, cuando es frecuente, intenso y mantenido determina la aparición de un síndrome de reflujo gastroesofágico cuya expresión clínica es la pirosis y sus equivalentes las regurgitaciones y los eructos ácidos. Cuando el reflujo provoca alteraciones endoscópicas y/o histológicas de la mucosa esofágica se habla de esofagitis péptica que se traduce clínicamente por un síndrome de reflujo gastroesofágico complicado: pirosis con disfagia, odinofagia y anemia. El síndrome de Barrett se caracteriza por la metaplasia del epitelio del esófago inferior el que de pavimentoso pluriestratificado se transforma en cilíndrico monoestratificado. El síndrome de Barrett puede dar lugar a estenosis y/o úlceras esofágicas y se maligniza en el 7 por ciento de los casos. El tratamiento del reflujo gastroesofágico y de la esofagitis péptica es primariamente médico (medidas no farmacológicas, bloqueadores H2, inhibidores de la bomba de protones y proquinéticos). Si el tratamiento médico fracasa y persiste la esofagitis debe recurrirse al tratamiento quirúrgico

Esophageal motility patterns in a Puerto Rican population

One hundred consecutive patients underwent esophageal motility testing at the Gastroenterology Section of the University Hospital for symptoms of esophageal dysfunction. These were dysphagia (55), non cardiac chest pain (11), gastroesophageal reflux (32), and other (2). Fifty five studies were abnormal. The most frequent findings were achalasia in fourteen patients and nonspecific esophageal motility disorder in fourteen. When the clinical presentation was correlated with the results of the study, 35 of the 55 patients with dysphagia had an abnormal study, as compared with 5 of 11 with chest pain and only 12 of 32 with reflux symptoms. These findings compare with those reported elsewhere and suggest that esophageal motility studies are most useful in the diagnosis of patients presenting with dysphagia or non cardiac chest pain

Esofago "mecano" y "quimio sensible": investigacion del dolor toracico no cardiogenico con el test de balon intraesofagico y la perfusion acida / \"Mechano and chemosensitive\" esophagus: investigation of non-cardiac chest pain by intraesophageal balloon test and acid perfusion

Se investigó la mecano y quimio-sensibilidad del esófago en 20 sujetos control y en 73 pacientes con purisus, D.T.N.C. y la combinación simultánea de dolor y pirosis. Se utilizó la prueba de distensión de un balón hasta 15 ml., en escalas de 2 cm. desde los 38 hasta los 22 cm. de la A.D.S. Se registró el número de pacientes que respondieron, volúmenes de distensión necesarios para evocar el sintoma, sitio de aparición y propagación del mismo. Las zonas de propagación fueron ubicadas en 13 zonas frontales y 10 dorsales. Se consideró como número de respuestas a la suma de las zonas de propagación para cada nivel estimulado (9 en total). En la misma sesión se realizó la prueba de perfusión ácida y el clearance ácido de es£fago. Se consideró como prueba positivo cuando se reprodujo el síntoma espontáneo. Se realizó endoscopía previa en todos los pacintes. RESULTADOS: La prueba de balón reprodujo el síntoma dolor en el 77.5 por ciento, cifra alcanzada estimulando los 9 niveles. De haberse estimulado un solo nivel la proporción no hubiera superado el 51 por ciento. Existen zonas "mudas" con relativa frecuencia. El 66.6 por ciento respondió con volúmenes < de 7 ml. La endoscopía fue normal en todos ellos. El test de perfusión ácida reprodujo la pirosis en el 62.5 por ciento. La presencia de esofagitis determinó una tendencia a aumentar la probabilidad de prueba positiva. Los pacientes con la combinación pirosis-dolor respondieron por separado ante cada prueba en el 60 por ciento. La perfusión ácida reprodujo el D.T.N.C. en el 6 por ciento. La prueba del balón reprodujo la pirosis en el 6.1 por ciento. CONCLUSIONES: 1) La prueba del balón sería la más útil en el estudio de la mecano-sensibilidad con altos porcentajes de reproducción cuando se estimulan al menos 9 niveles. 2) el test de perfusión sería útil para investigar quimio-sensibilida. La esofagitis aumentaria la posibilidad de test positivo. 3) Los pacientes con síntomas combinados se comportarían ante los tests de provocación como una disfunción sensorial mixta . 4) Una subpoblación de pacientes mostraría comportamientos atípicos ante los tests de...

Relationship of heartburn with histopathological changes in esophagus and stomach in patients with duodenal ulcer.

Histopathological changes in the esophagus and gastric antrum were studied in 47 patients with duodenal ulcer. Twenty three (49%) patients complained of heartburn. Esophagitis was present in 87% of the patients with heartburn and in 71% of the patients with no heartburn. In the majority, esophagitis was of mild to moderate severity. Gastritis was present in 83% (atrophic type in 22%) of patients with heartburn compared to 96% (25% atrophic type) of patients without heartburn. There was no statistical difference in the incidence of esophagitis and gastritis between the heartburn and no heartburn groups. This study suggests that histologic esophagitis and gastritis occur frequently in patients with duodenal ulcer and the presence of heartburn is not related to these histologic changes.