Esophageal mucosal resistance. A factor in esophagitis.

The development of esophageal damage depends on a number of factors. The components in the refluxate, including H+ ion, pepsin, bile salts, and pancreatic enzymes, are able to permeate the mucosa and cause injury. These agents may act individually or in combination. Balancing the effects of these damaging agents is the "esophageal mucosal barrier." This barrier is an integrated complex of anatomic and physiologic components that acts to maintain the integrity of the mucosa. Although the relative efficacy of the various components in developing an effective barrier is not understood completely, their physiologic and clinical importance in the face of "noxious" luminal contents remains critical. Understanding the interplay between the injurious agents in the refluxate and the esophageal mucosal barrier may allow for the development of new therapeutic measures in the treatment and prevention of gastroesophageal reflux disease.