BACKGROUND: Dilatation of the intercellular spaces by electron microscopy has been considered as an early morphological marker of tissue injury in gastroesophageal reflux disease. The degree of dilatation in Barret's esophagus in currently unknown. OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency of dilated intervellular spaces in Barrett's esophagus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional and prospective analysis of consecutive patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. We selected symptomatic patients > 18 years and both sexes. Patients with recent PPI use (< 14 days), H-2 antagonists, NSAID's or previous upper GI tract surgery were excluded. VARIABLES INCLUDED: Clinical-demographic data, Carlsson-Dent score, conventional endoscopy findings, pH-metry results (in non-erosive) and normal mucosal biopsies at 2 and 5 cm above the squamocolumnar junction. Dilation of intercellular spaces was measured by electron microscopy. STATISTICS: Chi square test with a significance level 0.05 was calculated. The following four groups were compared: a) non-erosive reflux disease (n = 14); b) erosive esophagitis (n = 5); c) Barrett's esophagus (n = 13); and d) healthy controls (n = 5). RESULTS: the dilation of intervellular spaces was increasingly greater form non-erosive revlux to Barrett's esophagus and higher in biopsies taken at 5 cm than at 2 cm of the squamous columnar junction (2.72 +/- 1.35 vs. 1.71 +/- 0.48 microg) (p = 0.001). There was no difference between biopsies at 2 and 5 cm in the order groups. CONCLUSION: dilation of intercellular spaces was greater in Barrett s esophagus than in the other groups and higher at 5 cm from the squamocolumnar junction.
BACKGROUND: Dilatation of the intercellular spaces by electron microscopy has been considered as an early morphological marker of tissue injury in gastroesophageal reflux disease. The degree of dilatation in Barret's esophagus in currently unknown. OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency of dilated intervellular spaces in Barrett's esophagus. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional and prospective analysis of consecutive patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. We selected symptomatic patients > 18 years and both sexes. Patients with recent PPI use (< 14 days), H-2 antagonists, NSAID's or previous upper GI tract surgery were excluded. VARIABLES INCLUDED: Clinical-demographic data, Carlsson-Dent score, conventional endoscopy findings, pH-metry results (in non-erosive) and normal mucosal biopsies at 2 and 5 cm above the squamocolumnar junction. Dilation of intercellular spaces was measured by electron microscopy. STATISTICS: Chi square test with a significance level 0.05 was calculated. The following four groups were compared: a) non-erosive reflux disease (n = 14); b) erosive esophagitis (n = 5); c) Barrett's esophagus (n = 13); and d) healthy controls (n = 5). RESULTS: the dilation of intervellular spaces was increasingly greater form non-erosive revlux to Barrett's esophagus and higher in biopsies taken at 5 cm than at 2 cm of the squamous columnar junction (2.72 +/- 1.35 vs. 1.71 +/- 0.48 microg) (p = 0.001). There was no difference between biopsies at 2 and 5 cm in the order groups. CONCLUSION: dilation of intercellular spaces was greater in Barrett s esophagus than in the other groups and higher at 5 cm from the squamocolumnar junction.
Authors: Sanghoon Park; Hoon Jai Chun; Jin Su Jang; Bora Keum; Yeon Seok Seo; Yong Sik Kim; Yoon-Tae Jeen; Hong Sik Lee; Soon Ho Um; Chang Duck Kim; Ho Sang Ryu; Chang-Sub Uhm; Sung Joon Lee Journal: Dig Dis Sci Date: 2011-07-07 Impact factor: 3.199
Authors: Helmut Neumann; Klaus Mönkemüller; Lucía C Fry; Frank Dombrowski; Doerthe Kuester; Mike Beyer; Peter Malfertheiner Journal: Dig Dis Sci Date: 2010-10-30 Impact factor: 3.199