Diagnostic significance and clinical characteristics of esophageal minimal change in gastroesophageal reflux disease / 中华消化杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic significance of esophageal minimal change in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and explore its clinical characteristics.Methods From May to September in 2013,patients with minimal esophageal mucosa changes including esophageal mucosa rough,white secretin adhesion,erythema,edema,increased brittleness,blurring of the Z line or zigzag looking and blurring of paliform blood vessel,or patients with Los Angeles classification (LA) which were identified by endoscopy were enrolled.The subjects received gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire (GcrdQ) investigation and the related history were collected.The total score of GerdQ over eight was set as the criteria for GERD diagnosis.The R × C chi-square test was performed for statistical analysis.Results A total of 417 valid questionnaires were completed.Of which,202 cases were in minimal change group,176 were in LA A group and 36 were in LA-B group.The diagnostic rate of GERD in minimal change group was 20.3％ (41/202),which was lower than that of LA-A group (74.4％,131/176) and LA-B group (83.3 ％,30/36),and the differences were statistically significant (x2 =129.144,P＜0.01).The incidences of heartburn in minimal change group,LA A group and LA-B group were 25.7％ (52/202),62.5％ (110/176) and 86.1％ (31/36),respectively.The incidences of reflux were 29.7％ (60/202),67.6％ (119/176) and 75.0％ (27/36),respectively.The incidences of non cardiac chest pain were 5.4％ (11/202),22.2％ (39/176) and 22.2％(8/36),respectively.The incidences of heartburn,reflux and non cardiac chcst pain of minimal change group were all lower than those of LA A group and LA-B group,and the differences were statistically significant (x2 =75.775,64.120,24.016;all P＜0.01).The leading cause of endoscopy examination in minimal change group was abdominal discomfort,which accounted for 49.0％(99/202).The leading causes of endoscopy examination in LA A group and LA-B group were esophageal symptoms,which accounted for 52.8％ (93/176) and 61.1％ (22/36).Conclusions The diagnostic rate of GERD in patients of minimal change group is low and the clinical symptoms are not typical,which is insufficient for diagnosis of GERD and needed further investigation.