Ultrastructural investigation in esophageal mucosa of non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease / 中华消化杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the changes of ultrastructural characteristics including interstitial space dilation(ISD) and the number of desmosome in non-erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease(NERD)with abnormal and normal oesophageal acid exposure.Methods Nineteen patients with(abnormal) oesophageal acid exposure,20 with normal oesophageal acid exposure,10 with reflux(esophagitis)(RE) and 10 asymptomatic controls,classified on the basis of pH-metry,underwent(endoscopy.) Three biopsies were taken from the normal mucosa for light microscopy and transmission(electron microscopy) evaluation.ISD was measured and the number of desmosome in the intercellular spaces was calculated by using a digital scanner from photomicrographs of the specimens.The above two markers were compared with each other among the above groups.Results There was no significant difference in the mean score of the interstitial space between NERD and RE patients [(2.21?0.68)?m versus(2.39?0.42)?m,P0.05)].The mean score of the interstitial space of the control was(0.63(?0.21))?m,much lower than those of NERD and RE patients(P0.01).There was a significant(difference) in ISD between NERD with abnormal oesophageal acid exposure and normal oesophageal acid(exposure) [(2.45?0.67)?m versus(1.91?0.67)?m,P0.05].The mean numbers of desmosome in the intercellular space of the NERD and RE patients were(0.141?0.043) entries/?m~2 and(0.124(?0.044)) entries/?m~2,respectively,significantly lower than those of the controls [(0.221?0.031)(entries/?m~2].) But no significant differences were observed between the RE and the NERD patients(P0.05).Conclusions The interstitial space of esophageal mucosa in the NERD patients is dilated as in the RE.In NERD patients,the dilation of interstitial space is associated with abnormal acid exposure.The numbers of desmosome may also be a marker of esophageal mucosal injury of NERD.