The biopsy diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease, "carditis," and Barrett's esophagus, and sequelae of therapy

Carditis: a relevant marker of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Data from a prospective central European multicenter study on histological and endoscopic diagnosis of esophagitis (histoGERD trial)

The columnar-lined mucosa at the gastroesophageal junction may contain an inflammatory infiltrate, commonly referred to as carditis (or cardia gastritis). The etiology of carditis is not entirely clear since published data are conflicting. Some authors believe it to be secondary to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and others to Helicobacter pylori gastritis. This prospective study aims at clarifying the relationship between carditis and the histological, clinical, and endoscopic findings of GERD, in a large cohort of individuals negative for H. pylori infection. Eight hundred and seventy-three individuals (477 females and 396 males, median age 53 years) participated in this study. Biopsy material was systematically sampled from above and below the gastroesophageal junction. Reflux-associated changes of the esophageal squamous epithelium were assessed according to the Esohisto consensus guidelines. Grading of carditis was performed according to the Updated Sydney System, known from the histological evaluation of gastritis. In total, 590 individuals (67.5%) had chronic carditis. Of these, 468 (53.6%) had mild chronic inflammation, with 321 individuals (68.6%) showing no or minimal changes on endoscopic examination (Los Angeles Categories N and M). The presence of chronic carditis was associated with several GERD-related parameters of the esophageal squamous epithelium (P < 0.0001), and data retained statistical significance even when analysis was restricted to individuals with mild chronic carditis and/or endoscopically normal mucosa. Chronic carditis was also associated with the presence of intestinal metaplasia (P < 0.0001). In addition, chronic carditis had a statistically significant association with patients' symptoms of GERD (P = 0.0107). This observation remained valid for mild chronic carditis in all patients (P = 0.0038) and in those with mild chronic carditis and normal endoscopic mucosa (P = 0.0217). In conclusion, chronic carditis appears to be the immediate consequence of GERD, correlating with patients' symptoms and endoscopic diagnosis. These results are valid in individuals with nonerosive reflux disease, which indicates a higher sensitivity of histological diagnosis. Our findings may impact the routine assessment of reflux patients.

An Ethanolic Extract of Allium hookeri Root Alleviates Reflux Esophagitis and Modulates NF-κB Signaling

Reflux esophagitis (RE) is a kind of gastroesophageal reflux disease, of which an esophageal inflammatory lesion is caused by the contents of the stomach and duodenum flowing back into the esophagus. Allium hookeri is a plant possessing both nutritional and medicinal properties. In our study, we investigated the inhibition effect of inflammation of A. hookeri root extract (AHE) on inflammatory RAW264.7 macrophage cells induced by lipopolysaccharide and rat models of RE. The results showed that AHE significantly reduced the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the protein expression levels of various mediators related to inflammation including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Furthermore, AHE also inhibited the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) by inhibiting the phosphorylation IκBα. In addition, AHE administration significantly ameliorated esophageal mucosal damage upon histological evaluation of RE in rats. AHE was also found to downregulate the expression levels of proteins such as COX-2, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the rat esophagus. AHE markedly attenuated activation of NF-κB and phosphorylation of IκBα at the same time. These results indicated that AHE suppressed LPS-induced inflammatory responses in RAW264.7 cells and may help reduce the development of esophagitis through the modulation of inflammation by regulating NF-κB activation.

Origins of Metaplasia in the Esophagus: Is This a GE Junction Stem Cell Disease?

The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and its precursor lesion Barrett's esophagus (BE) has been increasing steadily in the western world in recent decades. Understanding the cellular origins of BE and the conditions responsible for their malignant transformation would greatly facilitate risk assessment and identification of patients at risk of progression, but this topic remains a source of debate. Here, we review recent findings that have provided support for the gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) as the main source of stem cells that give rise to BE and EAC. These include both gastric cardia cells and transitional basal cells. Furthermore, we discuss the role of chronic injury and inflammation in a tumor microenvironment as a major factor in promoting stem cell expansion and proliferation as well as transformation of the GEJ-derived stem cells and progression to EAC. We conclude that there exists a large amount of empirical support for the GEJ as the likely source of BE stem cells. While BE seems to resemble a successful adaptation to esophageal damage, carcinogenesis appears as a consequence of natural selection at the level of GEJ stem cells, and later glands, that expand into the esophagus wherein the local ecology creates the selective landscape for cancer progression.

Utility of Water Siphon Maneuver for Eliciting Gastroesophageal Reflux During Barium Esophagography: Correlation With Histologic Findings

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study is to evaluate whether the water siphon maneuver improves detection of gastroesophageal (GE) reflux during barium esophagography compared with observation for spontaneous reflux only. Histopathologic analysis is the reference standard.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study assessed 87 outpatients who underwent both barium esophagography and upper endoscopy-guided biopsy within a 30-day interval. The water siphon maneuver was routinely performed when spontaneous GE reflux was not observed during the fluoroscopic study. Radiology reports were reviewed for mentions of the presence of reflux and the circumstances in which it was observed (as a spontaneous occurrence or as a result of the water siphon maneuver). Pathology reports from subsequent endoscopic biopsies were reviewed to identify histologic changes of reflux disease. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of esophagography, observation for spontaneous reflux, and the water siphon maneuver were calculated and then compared using a McNemar test.

RESULTS

Of the 87 patients, 57 (65.5%) had GE reflux diagnosed on the basis of histologic changes noted on endoscopy, and 30 (34.5%) did not. A total of 57 patients (65.5%) showed reflux during esophagography, 41 (71.9%) of whom had reflux diagnosed by the water siphon maneuver, and 16 (28.1%) had reflux diagnosed on the basis of observation of spontaneous reflux. Forty-four patients had reflux diagnosed on the basis of both a barium study and histologic findings; 13 patients had reflux noted on esophagography but had negative histologic findings. The overall sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of esophagography for reflux were 77.2%, 56.7%, and 70.1%, respectively. Spontaneous reflux alone had a sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of 21.1%, 86.7%, and 43.7%, respectively. The water siphon maneuver showed a sensitivity of 71.1%, a specificity of 65.4%, and accuracy of 69.0%. The differences in the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the water siphon maneuver versus observation of spontaneous reflux were statistically significant (p ≤ 0.004).

CONCLUSION

A properly performed and interpreted water siphon maneuver significantly increases the sensitivity and accuracy for GE reflux during esophagography, compared with observation for spontaneous reflux alone. The water siphon maneuver is a simple addition to barium esophagography that improves sensitivity and accuracy for the diagnosis of GE reflux compared with observation alone.

Human esophageal myofibroblasts secrete proinflammatory cytokines in response to acid and Toll-like receptor 4 ligands

The pathophysiology of esophageal injury, repair, and inflammation in gastroesophageal reflux-disease (GERD) is complex. Whereas most studies have focused on the epithelial response to GERD injury, we are interested in the stromal response. We hypothesized that subepithelial esophageal myofibroblasts in GERD secrete proinflammatory cytokines in response to injurious agents encountered via epithelial barrier breaches or through dilated epithelial intercellular spaces. We determined the percentage of myofibroblasts [-smooth muscle actin (-SMA)+vimentin+CD31-] in the subepithelial GERD and normal esophageal stroma by immunomorphologic analysis. We performed -SMA coimmunostaining with IL-6 and p65. We established and characterized primary cultures of -SMA+vimentin+CD31-CD45- human esophageal myofibroblasts (HuEso MFs). We modeled GERD by treatment with pH 4.5-acidified media and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) ligands, LPS and high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), and determined myofibroblast cytokine secretion in response to GERD injury. We demonstrate that spindle-shaped cell myofibroblasts are located near the basement membrane of stratified squamous epithelium in normal esophagus. We identify an increase in subepithelial myofibroblasts and activation of proinflammatory pathways in patients with GERD. Primary cultures of stromal cells obtained from normal esophagus retain myofibroblast morphology and express the acid receptor transient receptor potential channel vanilloid subfamily 1 (TRPV1) and TLR4. HuEso MFs stimulated with acid and TLR4 agonists LPS and HMGB1 increase IL-6 and IL-8 secretion via TRPV1 and NF-B activation. Our work implicates a role for human subepithelial stromal cells in the pathogenesis of GERD-related esophageal injury. Findings of this study can be extended to the investigation of epithelial-stromal interactions in inflammatory esophageal mucosal disorders.

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in type 2 diabetics: symptom load and pathophysiologic aspects - a retro-pro study

Background

Information about gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in patients with Diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2D) is scarce, although the incidence of both disorders is increasing.

We aimed to determine GERD symptoms and their underlying pathophysiologic characteristics in T2D patients.

Methods

This “retro-pro” study compared 65 T2D patients to a control group of 130 age- and sex-matched non-diabetics. GERD was confirmed by gastroscopy, manometry, pH-metry and barium swallow.

Results

In patients with T2D compared to controls, dysphagia (32.3% vs. 13.1%; p = 0.001) and globus sensation (27.7% vs. 13.8%; p = 0.021) were found more frequently, whereas heartburn (76.9% vs. 88.5%; p = 0.046) and regurgitation (47.7% vs. 72.3%; p = 0.001) were predominant in non-diabetics. Despite higher body mass indices (31.1 ± 5.2 vs. 27.7 ± 3.7 kg/m²; p < 0.001), hiatal hernia was less frequent in T2D patients compared to controls (60.0% vs. 90.8%, p < 0.001). Lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) pressure was higher in patients with T2D (median 10.0 vs. 7.2 mmHg, p = 0.016). DeMeester scores did not differ between the groups. Helicobacter pylori infections were more common in T2D patients (26.2% vs. 7.7%, p = 0.001). Barrett metaplasia (21.5% vs. 17.7%), as well as low- (10.8% vs. 3.8%) and high-grade dysplasia (1.5% vs. 0%) were predominant in T2D patients.

Conclusions

T2D patients exhibit different GERD symptoms, higher LES pressures and a decreased prevalence of hiatal hernia than non-diabetics, which may be related to worse oesophageal motility and, thus, a more functional rather than anatomical cause of GERD. Low-grade dysplasia was more than twice as high in T2D than in non-diabetics patients.

Trial registration

Ethics committee of the Medical University of Vienna, IRB number 720/2011.

Histology of symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease: is it predictive of response to proton pump inhibitors?

BACKGROUND AND AIM

To examine the differences in esophageal histopathology between non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) and reflux esophagitis (RE), and to investigate whether baseline esophageal histopathology can predict the therapeutic response to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).

METHOD

The subjects comprised 94 patients with NERD (n = 71) or mild RE (n = 23). Tissue was biopsied from 5 cm above the squamo-columnar junction (SCJ), and the degree or presence of nine histopathological markers was assessed. The patients were treated with rabeprazole (RPZ) 10 mg once daily for 4 weeks. If complete heartburn relief was not achieved, RPZ was increased to 10 mg twice daily for another 2 weeks, and then to 20 mg twice daily for another 2 weeks if heartburn remained.

RESULTS

Features of esophageal histopathology 5 cm above the SCJ differed between NERD and RE patients. The esophageal histopathology in patients unresponsive to RPZ was characterized by Protein Gene Product (PGP) 9.5 negativity in those with NERD, and intraepithelial bleeding in those with RE. In addition, the combination of dilated intercellular spaces (DIS) (+)/PGP 9.5 (-) was indicative of strong resistance to PPI therapy in NERD patients.

CONCLUSION

The therapeutic efficacy of PPI can be predicted from the features of biopsied esophageal tissue. Factors predictive of resistance to treatment with PPI are negativity for PGP 9.5 in NERD patients and intraepithelial bleeding in RE patients.

Increase of epidermal growth factor receptor expression in progression of GERD, Barrett, and adenocarcinoma of esophagus

INTRODUCTION

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a pathology with a wide range of clinical and endoscopic manifestations. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), found in the epithelium of the digestive tract, plays an important role in epithelial repair and shows increased expression in different neoplasms, including esophageal tumors.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to evaluate EGFR expression using immunohistochemistry in esophageal biopsies obtained from patients with GERD, Barrett's esophagus, and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus.

METHODS

EGFR expression was immunohistochemically determined in biopsies from 194 patients with symptoms suggestive of GERD or adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, seen at two Brazilian university hospitals between January 2003 and December 2008. Based on histopathological analysis, patients were divided into three groups: GERD, Barrett's esophagus and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. EGFR expression was considered positive when staining was detected in the membrane.

RESULTS

Mean age was 55.25 years (range 30-90). Patients with GERD (n = 127) accounted for 65.5% of the sample, compared with 12.4% (n = 24) of patients with Barrett's esophagus and 22.2% (n = 43) of patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical analysis was positive for EGFR in 19.1% of the patients (37/194), divided as follows: 8.7% (11/127) in the GERD group, 25% (6/24) in the Barrett's esophagus group, and 46.5% (20/43) in the esophageal adenocarcinoma group. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences between the three groups (p = 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

GERD patients showed lower levels of EGFR expression than patients with Barrett's esophagus or patients with adenocarcinoma of the esophagus, suggesting a direct relationship between EGFR expression and disease progression.

Age, smoking and overweight contribute to the development of intestinal metaplasia of the cardia

AIM: To assess the role of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), age, smoking and body weight on the development of intestinal metaplasia of the gastric cardia (IMC).

METHODS: Two hundred and seventeen patients scheduled for esophagogastroduodenoscopy were enrolled in this study. Endoscopic biopsies from the esophagus, gastroesophageal junction and stomach were evaluated for inflammation, the presence of H. pylori and intestinal metaplasia. The correlation of these factors with the presence of IMC was assessed using logistic regression.

RESULTS: IMC was observed in 42% of the patients. Patient age, smoking habit and body mass index (BMI) were found as potential contributors to IMC. The risk of developing IMC can be predicted in theory by combining these factors according to the following formula: Risk of IMC = a + s - 2B where a = 2,…6 decade of age, s = 0 for non-smokers or ex-smokers, 1 for < 10 cigarettes/d, 2 for > 10 cigarettes/d and B = 0 for BMI < 25 kg/m² (BMI < 27 kg/m² in females), 1 for BMI > 25 kg/m² (BMI > 27 kg/m² in females). Among potential factors associated with IMC, H. pylori had borderline significance (P = 0.07), while GERD showed no significance.

CONCLUSION: Age, smoking and BMI are potential factors associated with IMC, while H. pylori and GERD show no significant association. IMC can be predicted in theory by logistic regression analysis.

The effect of fundoplication on proliferative and anti-apoptotic activity of esophageal mucosa in gastroesophageal reflux disease: 4-year follow-up study

OBJECTIVE

The capacity of fundoplication to prevent esophageal adenocarcinoma is controversial. Development of cancer is associated with proliferation and anti-apoptosis, for which little data exist as to their response to fundoplication. Therefore, we wanted to clarify the effect of fundoplication on the magnitude of Ki-67 and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) during 48 months of follow up.

METHODS

Ki-67 and Bcl-2 were assessed quantitatively from biopsies of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) and from the distal and proximal esophagus of 20 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) treated by fundoplication. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed preoperatively and postoperatively at 6 months for 20 patients and 48 months for 16 patients, respectively. Ki-67 and Bcl-2 were compared to those of 7 controls.

RESULTS

Compared to the preoperative level, Ki-67 was elevated in the distal (P = 0.012) and proximal (P = 0.007) esophagus at 48 months. Compared to control values, Ki-67 was lower at 6 months in the EGJ (P = 0.037) and the proximal esophagus (P = 0.003) and higher at 48 months in the distal esophagus (P = 0.002). Compared to control values, Bcl-2 was lower at 6 months in the EGJ (P = 0.038). Correlations between Ki-67 and Bcl-2 were positive in the EGJ (P > 0.001) and in the distal (P = 0.001) and proximal esophagus (P = 0.013).

CONCLUSION

Proliferative activity after fundoplication increased during long-term follow up in the distal esophagus despite a normal fundic wrap and objective healing of GERD.

Proliferative and anti-apoptotic activity of esophageal mucosa in gastroesophageal reflux disease is not affected by fundoplication: a 4-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND

The role of fundoplication in the prevention of esophageal adenocarcinoma is controversial. Development of cancer is associated with proliferation and anti-apoptosis, for which little data exist regarding their response to fundoplication.

METHODS

Ki-67 and Bcl-2 expression was assessed in the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) and the distal and proximal esophagus of 20 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) treated by fundoplication and in 7 controls. Endoscopy was performed preoperatively and 6 (20 patients) and 48 months (16 patients) postoperatively.

RESULTS

There were positive correlations between Ki-67 and Bcl-2 levels in the EGJ (p > 0.001) and in the distal (p = 0.001) and proximal esophagus (p = 0.013). Compared to the preoperative level, Ki-67 expression was elevated in the distal (p = 0.012) and proximal (p = 0.007) esophagus at 48 months. In addition, compared to control values, Ki-67 expression was lower at the 6-month follow-up in the EGJ (p = 0.037) and the proximal esophagus (p = 0.003), and higher at the 48-month follow-up in the distal esophagus (p = 0.002). Compared to control values, Bcl-2 was lower at 6 months in the EGJ (p = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONS

Proliferative activity after fundoplication increased in the long term in the distal esophagus despite a normal fundic wrap and healing of GERD.

Immunohistochemical overexpression of the p53 protein and Ki-67 (MIB-1) antigen in patients with GERD and chronic esophagitis

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and Barrett esophagus have an increased risk of developing adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. It is uncertain whether molecular or proliferative alterations are present in the early stages of disease.

METHODS

One hundred thirty-eight patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms were subjected to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with biopsies of the esophageal mucosa. p53 protein expression and the Ki-67 proliferation index were determined by immunohistochemical studies. Patients were divided into 4 groups according to histopathologic diagnosis: G1, normal epithelium (n=58); G2, mild esophagitis (n=42); G3, moderate esophagitis (n=23), and G4, severe esophagitis (n=15).

RESULTS

p53 overexpression was detected in 7% of G1, 21.4% of G2, 52.2% of G3, and 60% of G4 patients. There were significant differences between G1 and G3 or G4 (P<0.001) and between G2 and G4 (P<0.05). The Ki-67 index was 21.3+/-19.5% in G1, 30.8+/-23.4% in G2, 47.1+/-23.2% in G3, and 48.3+/-25.7% in G4. Significant differences in the Ki-67 index were found between groups: G1 x G3 (P<0.001), G1 x G4 (P<0.001), G2 x G3 (P=0.026), and G2 x G4 (P=0.046). p53 and Ki-67 overexpression were correlated with the severity of esophagitis (P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

p53 overexpression and the Ki-67 (MIB-1) index were correlated with histologic findings of inflammation in the esophageal mucosa, particularly in the moderate and severe forms of chronic esophagitis.

Update on esophagitis: controversial and underdiagnosed causes

CONTEXT

Esophagitis is a common cause of symptoms for which patients seek the advice of a physician. Esophagitis of differing etiologies often demonstrate overlapping histopathologic features, making their distinction difficult. This is especially true in esophageal disorders associated with increased numbers of intraepithelial eosinophils, some of which have just recently been recognized.

OBJECTIVE

This review discusses the important clinical and pathologic features of the 2 most common disorders associated with esophageal eosinophilic infiltrates--reflux esophagitis and eosinophilic esophagitis--with special emphasis on features that allow the surgical pathologist to distinguish between these disorders. The various forms of drug-induced esophagitis are also discussed because these are frequently underrecognized by pathologists.

DATA SOURCES

Data were extracted from articles identified through PubMed-based research. Histologic figures have been taken from the personal case collection of the author.

CONCLUSIONS

Reflux and eosinophilic esophagitis demonstrate overlapping histologic features, which may make their distinction difficult. Drug-induced esophagitis is probably a common phenomenon but is underrecognized by pathologists.

The use of medication after laparoscopic antireflux surgery

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic antireflux surgery (LARS) significantly improves symptoms of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) and quality of life. Nevertheless, 14-62% of patients report using antisecretory medication after surgery, although only a tiny percentage has proven recurrence of GERD. We sought to determine symptoms of GERD, quality of life, and use of medication before and after LARS, and to compare our findings with those from previous studies.

METHODS

Five hundred fifty-three patients with GERD who underwent LARS were evaluated before and at 1 year after surgery. After surgery, multidisciplinary follow-up care was provided for all patients by surgeons, psychologists, dieticians, and speech therapists.

RESULTS

Symptoms of GERD and quality of life improved significantly and only 4.2% of patients still required medication after surgery [proton pump inhibitors (PPI) (98.4 vs. 2.2%; p < 0.01), prokinetics (9.6 vs. 1.1%; p < 0.01), and psychiatric medication (8 vs. 1.6%; p < 0.01)].

CONCLUSION

LARS significantly reduced medication use at 1-year follow-up. However, these effects might be attributed, in part, to the multidisciplinary follow-up care. Further studies are therefore required to investigate which patients may benefit from multidisciplinary follow-up care and whether its selective application may reduce the need for medication after LARS.

Variation of the intercellular space in the esophageal epithelium in response to hydrochloridric acid infusion in patients with erosive esophagitis

The purpose of this study was to compare esophageal infusion with 0.1 N hydrochloric acid (HCl) to esophageal infusion with saline in patients presenting with typical gastroesophageal reflux symptoms and erosive esophagitis.

METHODS

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed on 44 prospective subjects, 29 of whom were included in the study. Eighteen patients presented with normal esophagi (Control Group "C"), nine of whom were infused with HCl and nine with saline. Eleven patients presented with erosive esophagitis (Lesion Group "L"), five of whom were infused with HCl and six with saline. Biopsies of the esophageal mucosa were collected before and after infusions.

RESULTS

No statistically significant difference was found between the two types of infusions in terms of the dilation of the intercellular space of the esophageal epithelium, regardless of the status of the patient.

CONCLUSIONS

Response to HCl infusion cannot be used as a marker for gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Contribution of histology to the diagnosis of reflux disease

Histology in reflux disease is still regarded as having low sensitivity and specificity. During the last three decades several histological parameters have been developed, including thickness of basal cell layer, length of epithelial papillae, intraepithelial inflammatory cells and dilation of intercellular spaces. Unfortunately classification of these parameters was often not related to the clinical symptoms of the reflux affected individuals, proper control subjects were often missing and often no interobserver variation was given. Another reason for the proposed low value of biopsies is the fact that biopsies were often taken in a non-standardised way. Recent studies point towards an area of predominantly epithelial damage close to the lesser curvature or around the right oesophageal wall. In parallel, some large, careful studies carried out recently showed a good correlation with the clinical picture of reflux disease due to a standardised biopsy protocol and proper controls. But biopsies are not recommended in all routine classical cases of reflux disease since it is believed that little further information in addition to endoscopy can be obtained. However, histology can deliver much more information than the diagnosis of reflux induced lesions (e.g. the exclusion of malignancy or other oesophageal diseases).

Proton pump inhibitor therapy in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease decreases the oesophageal immune response but does not reduce the formation of DNA adducts

BACKGROUND

Chronic oesophageal inflammation and related oxidative stress are important in the pathogenesis of erosive oesophagitis (EO) and its malignant progression.

AIM

To study the effect of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) on oesophageal cellular immune response and oxidative damage in EO patients.

METHODS

Forty gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) patients [non-erosive reflux disease (NERD): 15, EO: 25] were included, after 7 days off antisuppressive drugs. EO patients were randomized to 20-mg rabeprazole once daily for either 4 or 8 weeks with baseline and follow-up endoscopy with distal oesophageal biopsies. T lymphocytes, macrophages and mast cells were quantified by immunohistochemistry. DNA adducts were measured by analysis of 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine levels.

RESULTS

Erosive oesophagitis patients had more T lymphocytes and CD8(+) T lymphocytes in squamous epithelium than NERD patients (P = 0.001, P = 0.002, respectively). Levels of DNA adducts between both groups were, however, not different (P = 0.99). Four- and eight-week rabeprazole treatment in EO patients resulted in a significant decrease in number of T lymphocytes and CD8(+) T lymphocytes (all P < 0.05). PPIs did not, however, affect levels of DNA adducts.

CONCLUSIONS

Short-term PPI therapy in EO patients reduces the oesophageal cellular immune response, but does not change oxidative damage. PPI therapy may therefore not be effective in reducing the risk of oesophageal cancer in GERD patients.

Gastric polyps: classification and management

Gastric polyps can be broadly defined as luminal lesions projecting above the plane of the mucosal surface. They are relatively frequent in routine pathology practice, where the main goal is to rule out the possibility of malignancy. Various subtypes of gastric polyps are recognized and generally divided into nonneoplastic and neoplastic. We will review herein only a limited subset of gastric polyps representing the most common or, sometimes, challenging.

Reflux esophagitis or Helicobacter infection? - diagnostic value of the inflammatory pattern in metaplastic mucosa at the squamocolumnar junction

OBJECTIVES

Metaplastic glandular mucosa with goblet cells at the squamocolumnar junction is induced either by reflux or by Helicobacter infection. We investigated whether the accompanying inflammation may give information about the etiology of these metaplastic changes and whether there are further criteria which are helpful in differentiating Helicobacter-induced vs. reflux-caused metaplasia.

METHODS

One hundred and nine patients with intestinal metaplasia diagnosed in biopsies obtained immediately below the Z-line were evaluated. Further biopsies were taken from the gastric body and antrum. Patients were diagnosed as having a normal Z-line, or as showing short tongues or segments of Barrett's esophagus endoscopically. Inflammation was graded according to the updated Sydney-system. Metaplasia was typed using Gomori's-aldehyde-fuchsin-Alcianblue staining.

RESULTS

Compared to patients with Barrett's esophagus, the active (p=0.0002) and chronic inflammation (p=0.0004) at the squamocolumnar junction was higher in patients with a normal Z-line and frequently accompanied by lymphoid aggregates (p<0.0001) and regular cardia- (p=0.0044) and/or corpus-type glands (p=0.0004). Pseudogoblet cells were more frequent in Barrett's esophagus (p=0.0159).

CONCLUSIONS

The endoscopic aspect of the Z-line, the inflammatory pattern, and the type of glands in biopsies from the squamocolumnar junction, as well as the presence of pseudogoblet cells are helpful tools in distinguishing Barrett's mucosa from Helicobacter-associated intestinal metaplasia.

Prospective peer-review audit of paediatric upper gastrointestinal endoscopy

AIM

To describe the findings of paediatric upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (UGE) and to reduce the rate of normal findings in children undergoing diagnostic UGE.

METHODS

Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were performed at a single tertiary referral children's hospital over a 3-year period by four endoscopists. Patients were subgrouped into diagnostic categories (recurrent abdominal pain syndrome (RAP), oesophagitis, coeliac disease and enteropathy/inflammatory bowel disease) and endoscopists recorded their clinical diagnosis as above before each procedure. Endoscopic and biopsy findings were compared with clinical diagnosis. After the first year of audit each endoscopist was appraised of their practice and strategies implemented to reduce the normal UGE. In years 2 and 3 all endoscopists were audited by their peers on a monthly basis.

RESULTS

A total of 1172 UGE were performed over a 3-year period. Ninety per cent were diagnostic procedures, of which 48% were normal, 16% identified oesophagitis, 11% coeliac disease, 6% gastritis, 3%Helicobacter pylori and 1% peptic ulcer disease. Peer-review audit significantly reduced the number of normal findings in coeliac disease, RAP and overall (P < 0.01) but not in the groups with presumed oesophagitis or investigation of enteropathy/inflammatory bowel disease.

CONCLUSIONS

A high proportion of patients undergoing UGE have normal procedures. Peer-review audit can reduce the number of normal procedures particularly in RAP and in the diagnosis of coeliac disease.

Validity of endoscopic classification of nonerosive reflux disease

BACKGROUND

Minimal changes, such as erythema without sharp demarcation or whitish turbidity of the lower esophageal mucosa, have recently been used for endoscopic classification of nonerosive reflux disease (NERD) in Japan. This study examined the usefulness of such changes in characterizing the pathophysiology of NERD.

METHODS

Physicians specializing in esophageal endoscopy performed endoscopy on 115 patients with NERD. Based on the presence or absence of minimal changes, patients were categorized as displaying NERD with minimal changes (grade M, n = 49) or with no minimal changes or mucosal breaks (grade N, n = 66). Clinical features, quality of life (QOL) scores, and ambulatory 24-h esophageal pH values were compared between groups. Ambulatory 24-h esophageal pH values were monitored in 31 patients (14 grade M and 17 grade N patients) who gave consent out of 115 patients.

RESULTS

In ambulatory 24-h esophageal pH monitoring, 57.1% (8/14) of grade M patients had pH < 4 more than 4% of the time (abnormal acid reflux) compared with 11.8% (2/17) in the grade N group, a significant difference (P = 0.018). QOL scores did not differ significantly between grades and were significantly lower in both groups compared with the general Japanese population. No significant differences were observed in patient background between the grade M and grade N groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Frequency of abnormal acid reflux with NERD is higher in patients with minimal changes than in patients without such changes. Minimal changes are most likely attributable to gastric acid reflux.

The pathology of gastric cardia: a prospective, endoscopic, and morphologic study

"Carditis" (inflammation of the gastric cardiac mucosa) may be associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), whereas other studies argue that Helicobacter pylori could play a significant role in the chronic cardiac damage. We examined prospectively histologic features of gastric cardia, esophagitis, and H. pylori status in 204 consecutive subjects with GERD symptoms (57.3% male, 42.7% female mean age 49.2 y) undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with multiple biopsies in the distal esophagus, cardiac region, and stomach. These were assessed for esophagitis landmarks [Ismail Beigi grading (g0-3)], gastritis, and H. pylori infection (Sydney classification). The average symptom duration was 10.8 months. Endoscopy showed no erosive disease in 54.5% patients, grade "A" esophagitis in 37.6%, "B" in 8%, and "C" in 1 case. Histologic examination disclosed g0 in 8.3% patients, g1 in 78.4%, g2 in 12.8%, and g3 in 1; analysis of the cardia showed oxyntic mucosa in 27.9% patients and chronic cardiac mucosa inflammation in 72.1%. Carditis was significantly related to macroscopic esophagitis (P=0.044) and heartburn score (P=0.001). H. pylori cardiac infection was present in 27.4% cases (73.2% associated with cardiac mucosa). Gastric H. pylori infection was demonstrated in 35% patients. H. pylori in the cardiac region was associated with gastric H. pylori infection (P=0.001) and with paucity of GERD symptoms (P=0.05). A good correlation between carditis and GERD, concerning symptoms and macroscopic esophagitis was found in this study. H. pylori-related carditis is likely to be differently compared with the GERD-related type.

Genetic polymorphisms in glutathione S-transferases T1, M1 and P1 and susceptibility to reflux esophagitis

Recent studies indicate that the prevalence of reflux esophagitis (RE) in China is increasing. RE is one of the most common esophageal complications associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and RE-Barrett's esophagus-esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) sequence has been considered as an histogenesis model for EAC in Western countries. RE is only present in a subset of patients with GERD, suggesting an altered susceptibility to RE may exist in these GERD individuals. However, the genetic changes related with high susceptibility to RE is largely unknown. The polymorphisms in glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) T1, M1 and P1 have been reported with high susceptibity to esophageal cancer in Chinese people. The present case-control study was thus undertaken to characterize the genetic polymorphisms of GSTs and their correlation with susceptibility to RE. One hundred and nine patients with RE, 97 patients with nonerosive reflux disease (NERD) and 97 normal controls were recruited in this study. All the subjects were from Beijing, China, and received endoscopic examination and questionnaires for RE. Genomic DNA was extracted from the lymphocytes of peripheral blood for each subject. Genotypes of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes were analyzed by a multiplex PCR method. A-->G polymorphism of codon 104 of the GSTP1 gene was detected using PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP). The variant GSTP1 genotypes (*A/*Bomicron*B/*B) was found with a high frequency in the case with RE (40%), and followed by NERD (25%) and normal control (22%). The differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The risk for RE increased 2.42-fold [odds ratio (OR); 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 2.42 (1.22-4.80)] in the subjects with variant GSTP1 genotype. The subjects with positive variant GSTP1 genotypes and negative H. pylori infection showed increasing tendency for risk of RE [OR (95% CI), 2.67 (1.06-6.70)]. However, the subjects with GSTT1 and GSTM1 polymorphisms did not show any correlation with high risk for RE or NERD. No significant interactions were identified between the variant GSTs and cigarette smoking, or alcohol drinking and subtype of RE. The present result suggests that GSTP1 genetic polymorphism may be one of the high susceptibility factors involved in the mechanisms of RE. H. pylori infection may play a protective role against RE.

Review article: the nature of oesophageal injury in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

The purpose of this review was to explore issues relating to the nature of oesophageal injury in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. Several structural and functional elements of the oesophageal epithelium provide for an inherent resistance against refluxed material. It is only when this defence is overcome that reflux-induced damage ensues. The light microscopic changes in reflux oesophagitis are manifold. Early changes are confined to the epithelium and consist of reactive changes and inflammatory cell infiltration. When the epithelial integrity can no longer be maintained, erosions and ulcers develop. Recently, dilatation of the intercellular spaces was described as a sensitive early marker for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease. This parameter was first identified by electron microscopy but can also be assessed by light microscopy in routinely stained tissue sections. Some of the changes occurring in early gastro-oesophageal reflux disease can be reproduced by incubating oesophageal mucosal biopsies in gastrointestinal fluids or their components. Activated pepsin, trypsin and conjugated bile acids at an acidic pH have been identified as probable causes of reflux-induced damage.

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease refers to reflux of gastric contents into the oesophagus leading to oesophagitis, reflux symptoms sufficient to impair quality of life, or long-term complications. Transient relaxation of the lower oesophageal sphincter is believed to be the primary mechanism of the disease although the underlying cause remains uncertain. Obesity and smoking are weakly associated with the disease and genetic factors might be important. A negative association with Helicobacter pylori exists, but eradication of H pylori does not seem to cause reflux disease. Diagnosis is imprecise as there is no gold standard. Reflux symptoms are helpful in diagnosis but they lack sensitivity. Ambulatory oesophageal pH monitoring also seems to be insensitive despite high specificity. Empirical acid suppression with a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) has reasonable sensitivity but poor specificity. Some evidence suggests that once patients develop the disease, severity is determined early and patients seem to continue with that phenotype long term. Unfortunately, most patients do not respond to life-style advice and require further therapy. H2 receptor antagonists and PPIs are better than placebo in oesophagitis, with a number needed to treat of five and two, respectively. In non-erosive reflux disease, acid suppression is better than placebo but the response rate is lower. Most patients need long-term treatment because the disease usually relapses. The role of endoscopic therapy is uncertain. Anti-reflux surgery is probably as effective as PPI therapy although there is a low operative mortality and morbidity.

Dilated intercellular spaces: a major morphological feature of esophagitis

OBJECTIVES

Dilated intercellular spaces (DIS) in the esophageal epithelium have been identified by electron microscopy as marker of acid reflux damage in experimental animals and adults with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). We aimed to identify and quantify DIS by light microscopy in pediatric GERD and esophagitis.

METHODS

We prospectively took esophageal biopsies in 70 consecutive pediatric patients, 48 of whom had GERD symptoms. On hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections esophagitis was scored histologically, and DIS were graded as 0 (absent), + (small and focal), ++ (moderate) or +++ (large and diffuse). A computerized image analysis identified total, cellular and nuclear areas and DIS were quantified as percentage of total minus cellular area.

RESULTS

Forty of 48 GERD patients had histological esophagitis (33 G1, 4 G2, 3 G3, 1 of which with Barrett esophagus), and all 40 had DIS (33 +, 4 ++, 3 +++) with 100% interobserver agreement; 15 of 29 (55%) had abnormal pH study (reflux index, 5.7%-36%). In 30 patients the esophagus was histologically normal. DIS values were 2.21% +/- 2.60% (range, 0.11%-12%) in patients with esophagitis and 0.44% +/- 0.13% (0.2%-0.7%) in patients with normal histology (P < 0.00001), with 0.71% bearing 70% sensitivity and 100% specificity for GERD versus controls. Five other children with esophagitis unrelated to GERD (eosinophilic, Candida, food allergy) also had DIS + to +++, and median DIS area was 5% (1.3%-12%).

CONCLUSIONS

DIS can be detected and evaluated by light microscopy, and the image analysis used provides an objective quantification of DIS and supports the light microscopy evaluation. DIS are a morphological feature of GERD and esophagitis in infancy and childhood.

Oesophagitis is common in patients with achalasia after pneumatic dilatation

BACKGROUND

Achalasia, an oesophageal motor disease, is associated with functional oesophageal obstruction. Food stasis can predispose for oesophagitis. Treatment aims at lowering of the lower oesophageal sphincter pressure, enhancing the risk of gastro-oesophageal reflux. Nevertheless, the incidence of oesophagitis after achalasia treatment is unknown.

AIM

To investigate the incidence and severity of oesophagitis in achalasia patients treated with pneumatic dilatation.

METHODS

A cohort of 331 patients with achalasia were treated with pneumatic dilatation and followed. Oesophagitis and stasis were assessed by endoscopy and inflammation was graded by histology.

RESULTS

251 patients were followed for a mean values of 8.4 years (range: 1-26). The average number of endoscopies with biopsy sample sets per patient was 4 (range: 1-17). Three patients had no histological signs of oesophagitis throughout follow-up, 139 had oesophagitis grade 1, 49 oesophagitis grade 2 and 60 grade 3. Specialized intestinal metaplasia was found in 37 patients. The association between endoscopic food stasis and histological inflammation was significant. The association between endoscopic signs of oesophagitis and histological inflammation was poor.

CONCLUSIONS

Forty percent of the achalasia patients develop chronic active or ulcerating oesophagitis after treatment. Inflammation was associated with food stasis. Because the sensitivity of endoscopy to detect inflammation is low, surveillance endoscopy with biopsy sampling and assessment of stasis is warranted to detect early neoplastic changes.

Bacterial biota in reflux esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus

AIM

To identify the bacterial flora in conditions such as Barrettos esophagus and reflux esophagitis to determine if they are similar to normal esophageal flora.

METHODS

Using broad-range 16S rDNA PCR, esophageal biopsies were examined from 24 patients [9 with normal esophageal mucosa, 12 with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and 3 with Barrettos esophagus]. Two separate broad-range PCR reactions were performed for each patient, and the resulting products were cloned. In one patient with Barrettos esophagus, 99 PCR clones were analyzed.

RESULTS

Two separate clones were recovered from each patient (total = 48), representing 24 different species, with 14 species homologous to known bacteria, 5 homologous to unidentified bacteria, and 5 were not homologous (<97% identity) to any known bacterial 16S rDNA sequences. Seventeen species were found in the reflux esophagitis patients, 5 in the Barrettos esophagus patients, and 10 in normal esophagus patients. Further analysis concentrating on a single biopsy from an individual with Barrettos esophagus revealed the presence of 21 distinct bacterial species. Members of four phyla were represented, including Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. Microscopic examination of each biopsy demonstrated bacteria in intimate association with the distal esophageal epithelium, suggesting that the presence of these bacteria is not transitory.

CONCLUSION

These findings provide evidence for a complex, residential bacterial population in esophageal reflux-related disorders. While much of this biota is present in the normal esophagus, more detailed comparisons may help identify potential disease associations.

Cyclooxygenase-2 expression and cell proliferation are increased in MUC2-positive area of columnar-lined esophagus

Columnar-lined esophagus is composed of intestinal type and gastric type epithelium. Only the specialized or intestinal type columnar epithelium is susceptible to the development of esophageal adenocarcinoma. The aim of the present paper was to evaluate the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX) and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase (mPGES) in gastric-type and intestinal-type metaplasia in columnar-lined esophagus and compare these with cell proliferation. Biopsy specimens of 30 columnar-lined esophagus patients were collected, and immunohistochemistry was performed for secretory mucins (MUC2, MUC5AC), COX, mPGES and cell proliferation (Ki-67). The MUC2-positive area had higher COX-2 expression and cell proliferation than the MUC5AC-positive area. There was a close correlation between COX-2 expression and cell proliferation. In contrast, the expression of COX-1, mPGES-1 and -2 was similar between intestinal metaplasia and gastric metaplasia. In conclusion, intestinal-type columnar-lined esophagus possesses COX-2 expression and a higher proliferation potential, suggesting that esophageal adenocarcinoma may arise from specialized columnar-lined esophagus.

Controversies of the cardiac mucosa and Barrett's oesophagus

Confusion regarding the diagnosis of Barrett's oesophagus exists because of a false dogma that cardiac mucosa is normally present in the gastro-oesophageal junctional region. Recent data indicate that the only normal epithelia in the oesophagus and proximal stomach are squamous epithelium and gastric oxyntic mucosa. When this fact is recognized, it becomes easy to develop precise histological definitions for the normal state (presence of only squamous and oxyntic mucosa), metaplastic oesophageal columnar epithelium (cardiac mucosa with and without intestinal metaplasia, and oxynto-cardiac mucosa), the gastro-oesophageal junction (the proximal limit of gastric oxyntic mucosa), the oesophagus (that part of the foregut lined by squamous and metaplastic columnar epithelium), reflux disease (the presence of metaplastic columnar epithelium), and Barrett's oesophagus (cardiac mucosa with intestinal metaplasia). It is also possible to assess accurately the severity of reflux which is directly proportional to the amount of metaplastic columnar epithelium, and the risk of adenocarcinoma which is related to the amount of dysplasia in intestinal metaplastic epithelium present within the columnar lined segment of the oesophagus. Histopathological precision cannot be matched by any other modality and can convert the confusion that exists regarding diagnosis of Barrett's oesophagus to complete lucidity in a manner that is simple, accurate, and reproducible.

Laparoscopic antireflux surgery provides excellent results and quality of life in gastroesophageal reflux disease patients with respiratory symptoms

Medical and surgical treatment are able to improve symptoms in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome following laparoscopic antireflux surgery in GERD patients with primary respiratory-related symptoms and to investigate the quality of life index before and after therapy. Three hundred thirty-eight consecutive patients underwent surgical treatment for GERD-induced symptoms. Of this group 126 patients had primary respiratory symptoms related to GERD. All patients were studied by means of a symptom questionnaire, endoscopy, esophageal manometry, 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring, and a barium esophagogram. In addition, the quality of life was measured by the means of the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI). All patients had medical therapy with proton pump inhibitors preoperatively. A laparoscopic fundoplication was performed in all patients. The outcome was assessed 3 and 12 months postoperatively. Following surgery, all respiratory symptoms were significantly improved. While GIQLI was highly impaired before surgical therapy, a significant improvement of quality of life was obtained. Because medical treatment is likely to fail in GERD patients with respiratory symptoms, the need for surgery arises and may be the only successful treatment in the long term. Quality of life was significantly improved by surgical treatment.

Impact of hiatal hernia on histological pattern of non-erosive reflux disease

BACKGROUND

Hiatus hernia (HH) has major pathophysiological effects favoring gastroesophageal reflux and hence contributing to esophageal mucosa injury, especially in patients with severe gastroesophageal disease. However, prospective studies investigating the impact of HH on the esophageal mucosa in non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) are lacking. This study evaluated the association between the presence of (HH) and the histological findings in symptomatic patients with NERD.

METHODS

Fifty consecutive patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were enrolled. After conventional endoscopy, Lugol solution was applied and biopsy specimens were obtained. Histological parameters including basal zone hyperplasia, papillary length and cellular infiltration were evaluated. The chi-square test with Yates' correlation was used for comparing discrete parameters between groups. However, Fisher's exact probability test was used where the expected frequencies were lower than 5. Wilcoxon's test for unpaired samples was preferred in cases of semi-quantitative parameters.

RESULTS

The presence of HH along with more severe findings (0.01 <P < 0.05) was confirmed in 18 patients. NERD was observed in 29 (58%) patients. Basal zone hyperplasia and loss of glycogen accompanied HH in all cases, and the correlation was significant in NERD (P < 0.001). The remaining histological patterns were similar between erosive reflux disease and NERD in the presence of HH.

CONCLUSION

The presence of HH is correlated with more severe endoscopy findings, and predisposes for severe histological abnormality in cases of NERD.

Histological inflammatory changes after surgery at the epithelium of the distal esophagus in patients with Barrett's esophagus: a comparison of two surgical procedures

There are many reports concerning the surgical treatment of patients with Barrett's esophagus, but very few focus on histological changes of inflammatory cells in squamous and columnar epithelium before and late after classic antireflux or acid suppression-duodenal diversion surgery. We evaluate the impact of these procedures in the presence of intestinal metaplasia, dysplasia and Helicobacter pylori in the columnar epithelium. Two groups of patients were studied, 37 subjected to classic antireflux and 96 to acid suppression-duodenal diversion operations. They were subjected to endoscopic and histological studies before and at 1, 3 and more than 5 years after surgery. Manometric evaluations and 24 h pH monitoring were performed before and at 1 year after surgery. The presence of inflammatory cells at both the squamous and columnar epithelium was significantly higher at the late follow up in patients subjected to classic antireflux surgery compared with patients subjected to acid suppression-duodenal diversion operations (P < 0.02 and P < 0.001, respectively). Intestinal metaplasia, present in 100% of patients before surgery, had decreased significantly at 3 years after surgery in patients subjected to acid suppression-duodenal diversion operations compared with classic antireflux procedures, 75% versus 53%, respectively (P < 0.001). The presence of Helicobacter pylori did not vary before or after surgery in either group. In conclusion, acid suppression-duodenal diversion operations are followed by a decreased presence of inflammatory cells in both squamous and columnar epithelium compared with classic antireflux surgery in patients with Barrett's esophagus. Intestinal metaplasia and dysplasia and inflammation findings were also less common after acid suppression-duodenal diversion operation.

Mucosal concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines at gastric cardia: implication of Helicobacter pylori infection and gastroesophageal reflux

OBJECTIVES

The pathogenesis of carditis remains unclear, although gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and Helicobacter pylori infection have been proposed. Little is known about the profile of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the pathogenesis of carditis.

METHODS

We studied 28 patients with GERD and 40 controls. Two biopsy specimens were taken endoscopically from the cardiac mucosa within 5 mm from the squamocolumnar junction; one was snap frozen for measurement of mucosal levels of interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta), tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-6, IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), regulated on activation normal T-cell expressed and presumably secreted (RANTES) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, while another was processed for histopathology. H. pylori infection was assessed by serology, rapid urease test, and histology with Giemsa staining. Samples were taken from the cardia of 18 H. pylori-positive patients, before and after eradication treatment.

RESULTS

Carditis was significantly associated with H. pylori infection, but not GERD. IL-8, MCP-1, and RANTES levels were significantly higher in cardiac mucosa of patients with carditis than in those without it and in patients with than without H. pylori infection. IL-8 concentrations were significantly associated with the degree of neutrophil infiltration within the cardiac mucosa and decreased after cure of the infection. Mucosal MCP-1 and RANTES levels correlated positively with the grades of mononuclear cell infiltration and IL-1beta concentrations.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that chemokines produced locally in the cardiac mucosa may be involved in the development of H. pylori-associated carditis.

Impact of Helicobacter pylori infection on histological changes in non-erosive reflux disease

AIM: The evidence for an association between Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) and gastroesophageal reflux disease, either in non- erosive (NERD) or erosive esophagitis (ERD) remains uncertain. The available data on the histological changes in NERD and the effect on H pylori infection on them are elusive. The aim of this study therefore was to prospectively evaluate the histological findings and the impact of H pylori infection on a group of symptomatic patients with NERD.

METHODS: Fifty consecutive patients were prospectively evaluated for symptoms compatible with GORD. In all cases, routine endoscopy and lugol directed biopsies were performed and assessed histologically in a blinded manner.

RESULTS: The overall prevalence of H pylori infection was 70%. Twenty-nine patients out of 50 (58%) were NERD patients. No statistical significance was observed between the H pylori status and NERD. The remaining 21 (42%) were diagnosed as follows: 13 (26%), 6 (12%), 2(4%) with esophagitis grade A, B and C respectively. A statistically significant correlation was observed between the H pylori+ and esophagitis grade A, as well as between H pylori- and grade B. Biopsies from 2 patients were not included because of insufficient materials. Histologically, a basal zone hyperplasia was found in 47 (97.91%) patients, alterations of glycogen content in 47 (97.91%), papillae elongation in 33 (68.75%), blood vessels dilatation in 35(72.91%), chronic inflammation in 21 (43.75%), infiltration with eosinophils, neutophils and T-lymphocytes in 4 (8.33%), 6 (12.5%) and 39 (81.25%) respectively. No correlation was observed between the H pylori status and the histological parameters studied either in NERD or GERD.

CONCLUSION: Histological assessment can not differentiate symptomatic patients with erosive versus non-erosive reflux disease. Moreover, H pylori infection may not act as an important factor in patients with NERD.

Celiac disease and glycogenic acanthosis: a new association?

A 6-y-old boy and an 8-y-old girl were admitted to our clinic with anaemia and failure to thrive. Laboratory tests revealed iron deficiency anaemia and positive antigliadin antibodies in both of the patients. Slightly raised grey-white plaques were observed on oesophageal mucosa during endoscopical investigation of the patients. While intestinal mucosal samples confirmed diagnosis of celiac disease histologically, histopathological assessment of oesophageal lesions demonstrated glycogenic acanthosis. Since glycogenic acanthosis associated with celiac disease hasn't been reported in the literature previously to our knowledge, case reports of our patients were presented.

CONCLUSION

We suggest that glycogenic acanthosis needs to be investigated as a possible new association of celiac disease in greater paediatric series.

Barrett's esophagus: histopathologic definitions and diagnostic criteria

Adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus is rising more rapidly in incidence than any other visceral malignancy in the Western world. It is well established that most, if not all, of these tumors develop in Barrett's esophagus via the metaplasia-dysplasia-carcinoma sequence and could theoretically be detected at an early stage, but despite this, the majority of these tumors are still detected late in their course. This highlights the fact that the goal of effective surveillance for patients at risk for developing an adenocarcinoma of the distal esophagus is still far off. In addition, adenocarcinomas of the esophagogastric junction and gastric cardia are also rising in incidence, but their carcinogenesis and their relation to Barrett's esophagus are still being defined, as are the meaning and significance of the relatively new entities "short-segment Barrett's" and "ultra-short-segment Barrett's". This review attempts to clarify the main histopathologic issues concerned with the definition of Barrett's esophagus, its distinction from intestinal metaplasia of the gastric cardia, as well as the criteria for the histologic diagnosis of dysplasia and carcinoma in Barrett's esophagus.

Efficacy of laparoscopic antireflux surgery in patients with Barrett's esophagus

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic antireflux surgery (LARS) corrects significant physiologic and anatomic abnormalities in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); however, debate exists whether LARS prevents recurrent symptoms and malignant transformation in patients with Barrett's esophagus (BE). This study compared clinical outcomes after LARS in patients with and without BE.

METHODS

From 1994 to 2001, 448 patients who underwent LARS were studied. Of these, 68 (15%) had preoperative evidence of BE with low-grade dysplasia in 3 (4%), and 380 (85%) were without BE. Mean postoperative follow-up was more than 30 months in each group.

RESULTS

After LARS, there was equivalent reduction in acid reduction medication use and typical GERD symptoms in both groups. Anatomic failures developed in 12% of patients with BE and in 5% of those without BE (P = 0.05). Upper endoscopy with biopsies was obtained in 50 of 68 patients (74%) with BE at 37 +/- 22 months postoperatively. Intestinal metaplasia was no longer present in 7 of 50 (14%) BE patients, and low-grade dysplasia regressed to nondysplastic Barrett's in 2 of 3 patients. New low-grade dysplasia developed in 1 BE patient (2%) at postoperative endoscopic surveillance. No BE patients developed high-grade dysplasia or adenocarcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

After LARS, patients with BE have symptomatic relief and reduction in medication use equivalent to non-BE patients. Regression of intestinal metaplasia and the absence of progression to high-grade dysplasia or adenocarcinoma suggest that LARS is an effective approach for the management of patients with Barrett's esophagus. The higher failure rate of LARS in BE is of concern and mandates ongoing follow-up of these patients.

Reflux esophagitis: sequelae and differential diagnosis in infants and children including eosinophilic esophagitis

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common condition in infants and children and has many clinical mimics. Most pediatric pathology departments process many mucosal biopsies from the proximal gastrointestinal tract to evaluate the presence or absence of reflux esophagitis. Since this subject was last reviewed in the 1997 edition of Perspectives in Pediatric Pathology devoted to gastrointestinal diseases in children (Dahms BB. Reflux esophagitis and sequelae in infants and children. In: Dahms BB, Qualman SJ, eds. Gastrointestinal Disease. Perspectives in Pediatric Pathology, vol. 20. Basel: Karger, 1997;14-34), progress in the field has allowed recognition of additional presenting symptoms and treatments of GERD. Histologic criteria for diagnosing reflux esophagitis have not changed. However, the entity of eosinophilic esophagitis has emerged since 1997 and has been defined well enough to allow it to be distinguished from reflux esophagitis, with which it was probably previously confused. Refinements (though not simplification!) in the definition of Barrett esophagus are still in evolution. This review will summarize these newer concepts and briefly review the standards of diagnosis of reflux esophagitis.

'Cardiac-type' (mucinous) mucosa and carditis are both associated with Helicobacter pylori-related gastritis

BACKGROUND

Adenocarcinoma of the gastro-oesophageal junction is rapidly increasing in incidence and there is much interest in precursor lesions. The aetiology of inflammation of the gastric cardia (carditis) and the concept of the cardia as a native zone of mucinous gastric glands are disputed.

AIMS

To investigate the relationship between the type of cardiac mucosa and carditis with various histological and clinical parameters.

METHODS

Ninety-eight sets of gastric biopsies (cardia, corpus, incisura and antrum) were obtained prospectively in young patients (median age 40 years) who presented to the outpatient clinic with symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux (n = 25) or other upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Patients with neoplasia or Barrett's oesophagus were excluded. The presence (n = 19) or absence of oesophagitis at endoscopy was recorded. The degree of inflammation, Helicobacter pylori density, intestinal metaplasia and atrophy were scored according to the Sydney classification and the type of cardiac mucosa (oxyntic or mucinous) was noted.

RESULTS

We found that carditis and mucinous-type cardiac mucosa were strongly associated with H. pylori-related gastritis (P = 0.00019 and P = 0.006, respectively) but not with clinical or endoscopic gastro-oesophageal reflux. Mucinous mucosa in the cardia was only seen in 17% of biopsies.

CONCLUSION

H. pylori-related gastritis is associated with mucinous-type cardiac mucosa as well as with carditis. The former strongly points to expansion of mucinous cardiac mucosa in H. pylori gastritis. This probably represents metaplasia of oxyntic to mucinous mucosa and raises the possibility of a role in carcinogenesis of the gastro-oesophageal junction.

The utility of cytokeratins 7 and 20 (CK7/20) immunohistochemistry in the distinction of short-segment Barrett esophagus from gastric intestinal metaplasia: Is it reliable?

Background

The purpose of the present correlative immunohistochemical study was to assess the utility of cytokeratin (CK7 and CK20) expression in the diagnosis of short-segment Barrett esophagus, particularly its efficacy in differentiating Barrett mucosa from intestinal metaplasia of the gastric cardia and corpus.

Methods

Two groups of endoscopic biopsy specimens were examined, including 20 endoscopic biopsy specimens of short-segment Barrett esophagus (Group A) and equal number exhibiting Helicobacter pylori associated intestinal metaplasia of the gastric cardia and corpus (Group B). All were investigated by immunohistochemistry using the standard ABC method for CK7 and CK20 expression. Fisher's exact test was used for statistical analysis of Barrett CK7/20 and gastric CK7/20 patterns between the groups.

Results

The anticipated pattern of reactivity in Barrett mucosa (CK7: strong diffuse positivity in superficial and deep glands; CK20: positivity in surface epithelium and superficial glands) was seen in 2 cases of Group A specimens. The expected gastric pattern (CK7: patchy immunostaining with variable involvement of deep glands; CK20: patchy immunostaining of superficial and deep glands in incomplete intestinal metaplasia / absence of CK7 immunoreactivity with strong CK20 staining in superficial and deep glands in complete intestinal metaplasia) was seen in 8 cases of Group B specimens. The respective sensitivity and false-negativity values of CK7/20 staining for Barrett pattern in Group A were 10% and 90%, respectively. These values for gastric pattern in Group B were 40% and 60%, respectively. The specificity and false-positivity values of both patterns were same (100% and 0%, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference for Barrett pattern between the two groups (P = 0.487), while the observation of gastric pattern was significantly higher in Group B than in Group A (P = 0.02).

Conclusions

We concluded that these hypothesized and recently applied diagnostic criteria involving CK7 and CK20 immunoreactivity are not reliable in distinguishing short-segment Barrett esophagus from intestinal metaplasia as seen in gastric cardia and corpus.

Cdx2 as a marker of epithelial intestinal differentiation in the esophagus

The histologic diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus requires the presence of goblet cells, but this finding may not be the earliest indicator of intestinal metaplasia. We used immunohistochemistry to detect Cdx2, a transcriptional regulator important in the early differentiation and maintenance of intestinal epithelium, in 134 esophageal biopsy or resection specimens, including 62 with junctional-type epithelium (13 of which had equivocal histologic features of Barrett's epithelium), 34 with Barrett's epithelium without dysplasia, and 38 with Barrett's epithelium and dysplasia or carcinoma (13 low-grade dysplasias, 19 high-grade dysplasias, and 6 adenocarcinomas). We also performed PAS-alcian blue staining (pH 2.5) on adjacent sections. Cdx2 was observed in all cases of Barrett's epithelium. In some dysplasias (chiefly high-grade) and adenocarcinomas, there was diminution or focal loss of detectable protein. Cdx2 was detected in 20 of 62 cases (30%) of junctional-type epithelium, including 10 of 13 (77%) with equivocal histologic features of Barrett's epithelium. Acid mucin was present in goblet cells and non-goblet columnar cells in all cases of Barrett's esophagus and in non-goblet columnar cells in 48 of 62 cases (77%) with junctional-type epithelium only, including 17 of 20 (85%) that were Cdx2 positive and 31 of 42 (74%) that were Cdx2 negative. These results provide evidence that Cdx2 protein is a sensitive marker of intestinal metaplasia in the upper gastrointestinal tract and may be useful in detecting histologically equivocal cases of Barrett's esophagus. Cdx2 is present in dysplasia and adenocarcinoma, with some loss of protein primarily in high-grade dysplasia and adenocarcinoma. Acid mucin in non-goblet columnar cells is a common feature of Barrett's and junctional-type epithelium and may not always be indicative of intestinal metaplasia.

Diagnostic Tests for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

A range of tests is available to the physician pursuing the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Many times, these studies are unnecessary because the history is sufficiently revealing to identify the presence of troubling reflux disease. 1 However, this may not be the case and the clinician must decide which tests to choose to arrive at a diagnosis in a reliable, timely, and cost-effective manner (Table 1). Furthermore, the various esophageal tests need to be selected carefully depending upon the information desired. For example, identifying the presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease is different from proving that the patient's symptoms are caused by reflux episodes. Additionally, defining that acid reflux exists may not be enough. To tailor appropriate medical or surgical therapy requires knowing whether complications of GERD are present as well as possible mechanisms by which abnormal GER occurs. A thorough and well-devised investigation strategy requires knowledge of testing procedures ranging from radiology and pathology to physiology and endoscopy. An informed background in these areas allows the clinician and investigator to address not only the presence of reflux and its correlation to patient symptoms but also the severity of esophageal injury and even the mechanisms by which the damage is done. By using the available tests judiciously, one can increase the opportunity of making a correct diagnosis of GERD and simultaneously limit the potential inconveniences or cost to the patient.