Study of oesophageal mucin in cases of reflux oesophagitis

ABSTRACT

The aim of this work was to study the possible qualitative changes in the oesophageal mucins in the presence of reflux oesophagitis. Twenty patients suffering from reflux oesophagitis as well as ten control subjects were included in this study. All patients and controls were subjected to full history taking, thorough clinical examination, blood picture, barium swallow and upper gastro-intestinal endoscopy with multiple biopsies to emphasize a greater diagnostic yield. These specimens were fixed in 10% formalin solution and paraffin sections were made. Staining was then done by 3 techniques i.e. Haematoxylin and Eosin, Alcian blue and combined Alcian blue and Periodic Acid Schieff technique. Heart burn was the prevelant complaint in patients with GERD [gastroesophageal reflux disease]. This work revealed a statistically significant correlation between hiatus hernia and reflux oesophagitis. [P<0.05]. Alteration of the mucin pattern of the lower oesophagus has been definitely proved in this study. In the present work where was a significant correlation between the predominance of sulfomucin variety and the presence of reflux oesophagitis [P<0.05]. The predominance of sulfomucin variety was also statistically significant over the neutral variety in reflux oesophagitis patients