Barrett's oesophagus

Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with Barrett's oesophagus: a prospective immunohistochemical study

The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with Barrett's oesophagus was studied prospectively. A sensitive immunohistochemical staining of H pylori was performed in oesophageal and gastric biopsies of 73 patients from a surveillance group with this condition. H pylori was detected in 11 cases of Barrett's mucosa (15%) and in 26 gastric mucosa specimens (35.6%). All cases positive in Barrett's mucosa were also positive in the stomach. In Barrett's oesophagus, H pylori was never found on specialised epithelium. The percentage of Barrett's mucosa showing inflammatory changes was similar in specimens with and without H pylori, both for chronic (81% v 79%) and acute (9% v 10%) infiltrates. These results indicate that H pylori infection does not play an aetiological role in Barrett's oesophagus and that colonisation of the metaplastic mucosa by this bacteria is related with the presence of gastric type mucosa in the oesophagus and of H pylori infection in the stomach.

Regression and progression of Barrett's oesophagus after antireflux surgery

The effects of antireflux surgery on Barrett's oesophagus were studied. Fifty-six patients (45 men and 11 women of median age 48.5 (range 20-78) years) with histologically confirmed Barrett's oesophagus (greater than 3 cm in length) and gastro-oesophageal reflux underwent antireflux surgery. Symptoms were noted and patients underwent manometry and pH recording before and after operation, and annual flexible endoscopy. Fundoplication resulted in a significant improvement in lower oesophageal sphincter pressure (median (interquartile range (i.q.r.)) 8 (5-14) mmHg before operation versus 17 (11-22) mmHg after operation, P < 0.001). Twenty-four of the 56 patients had partial or complete regression of Barrett's oesophagus (median (i.q.r.) length 8 (3-18) cm before versus 4 (0-10) cm after operation, P < 0.001) but nine showed progression (median (i.q.r.) length 6 (3-11) cm before versus 10 (6-15) cm after operation, P < 0.01) (median follow-up 5.5 (range 2.0-10.5) years). Carcinoma developed in one patient. The length of Barrett's oesophagus was unchanged in 23 patients. Regression was more likely to occur in patients who underwent fundoplication with previous or concomitant vagotomy (chi 2 = 7.21, 1 d.f., P < 0.01) and in those with a good symptomatic result (chi 2 = 23.52, 1 d.f., P < 0.001).

Roles of gastric acid and pH in the pathogenesis of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

In recent years, gastric acid has been shown to play a major role in the pathogenesis of reflux oesophagitis, though it remains possible that defective oesophageal mucosal resistance may also play some part. Abnormally prolonged and/or frequent exposure of the distal oesophagus to a pH of less than 4 is the major defect; this results from frequent gastro-oesophageal reflux, the impact of which is magnified in about half of the patients by slow oesophageal acid clearance. Abnormal oesophageal acid exposure increases in severity from endoscopy-negative reflux disease through worsening grades of reflux oesophagitis. Pepsin activity has been shown to be a major determinant of the aggressiveness of refluxate and, in turn, the full activity of gastric pepsin requires a pH below 3. Thus, gastric acid probably exerts a predominantly indirect effect on the pathogenesis of reflux oesophagitis by determining peptic activity. Although bile and other components of small intestinal juice can injure the oesophageal mucosa, these factors are apparently important only in the exceptional patient with very severe reflux disease. Gastric acid hypersecretion is probably also unimportant in the majority of patients. Peptic activity, and hence the aggressiveness of refluxate, are reduced markedly between pH 3 and 4. Achievement of this threshold, pH 3-4, in the daytime is important as, contrary to traditional beliefs, daytime reflux, triggered by food intake, is of the greatest importance in most patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)