Pathological correlation with cardiovascular autonomic disturbance in reflux esophagitis

ABSTRACT

Reflux esophagitis is a growing problem exaggerated by the relative ease with which gastric and duodenal ulcerations can be cured. This study comprised 20 elderly patients [12 females and 8 males] complaining of reflux symptoms, compared with 10 control subjects with comparable ages. All patients were exposed to thorough clinical examination, routine laboratory investigations, barium study, upper endoscopy and histopathological examination. All subjects were exposed to cardiovascular autonomic function tests which were taken as an indirect evidence or marker of autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Autonomic dysfunction, mainly affecting the vagus, was found in 75% of patients in comparison to 10% of controls. It was concluded that vagal dysfunction is important in the genesis of gastro-esophageal reflux and this may have some implication on treatment by influencing the vagal integrity