Abstract
We evaluated the ability of 24-h intraesophageal pH monitoring in discriminating 78 patients(pts) with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) disease(GERD) from 22 controls (Cpts): 17 pts had GERD alone(Apts) and 61 GERD and esophagitis diagnosed by endoscopy and biopsy (B-pts). Mean(±SD) age (months) was 30.0±34.7 (A), 50.1±53.8 (B), 19. 0±29.1 (C). Total exposure acid time (% GER)(A: 5.4±2.9; B: 9.0±9.9, p<0.05; C: 1.1±0.7, p<0.001 vs A and B; mean±SD) and the number of GER episodes >5′ to clear (A: 3.3±2.9; B: 5.7±5.5, p<0.05; C: 0.4±0.7, p<0.001 vs A and B; mean±SD) were the variables most consistently abnormal in pts. The Bpts differed from Apts both for % GER and GER episodes >5′ in the early post-cibal period (pcp)(respectively: 3.9±5.1% vs 2.1±1.9%, p<0.05, and 2.7±3.3 vs 1.4±1.8, p<0.05; mean±SD) but not in the late pcp or during the sleep. Normal values (<2 SD from controls) for acid exposure time were found in 23.5% of Apts and 26.2% of Bpts and for GER episodes >5′ in 47.1% of Apts and 41.0% of Bpts. We conclude that: 1)Acid reflux in the early pcp plays a role in the development of mucosal injury; 2) the 24-h intraesophageal pH test has a remarkable incidence of negative results that limit its sensitivity.
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Cucchiara, S., Gobio Casali, L., Staiano, A. et al. 51. THE 24-HOUR INTRAESOPHAGEAL pH MONITORING: A CRITICAL REASSESSMENT. Pediatr Res 22, 104 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198707000-00072
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198707000-00072