Giorgio Sammito

Functional Heartburn has more in common with Functional Dyspepsia than with Non-Erosive Reflux Disease

Introduction: Functional dyspepsia and non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) are prevalent gastrointestinal conditions with accumulating evidence regarding an overlap between the two. Still, patients with NERD represent a very heterogeneous group and limited data on dyspeptic symptoms in various subgroups of NERD are available. Aim: To evaluate the prevalence of dyspeptic symptoms in patients with NERD subclassified by using 24 h impedance-pH monitoring (MII-pH). Methods: Patients with typical reflux symptoms and normal endoscopy underwent impedance-pH monitoring off proton pump inhibitor treatment. Oesophageal acid exposure time (AET), type of acid and non-acid reflux episodes, and symptom association probability (SAP) were calculated. A validated dyspepsia questionnaire was used to quantify dyspeptic symptoms prior to reflux monitoring. Results: Of 200 patients with NERD (105 female; median age, 48 years), 81 (41%) had an abnormal oesophageal AET (NERD pH-POS), 65 (32%) had normal oesophageal AET and positive SAP for acid and/or non-acid reflux (hypersensitive oesophagus), and 54 (27%) had normal oesophageal AET and negative SAP (functional heartburn). Patients with functional heartburn had more frequent (p<0.01) postprandial fullness, bloating, early satiety and nausea compared to patients with NERD pH-POS and hypersensitive oesophagus. Conclusion: The increased prevalence of dyspeptic symptoms in patients with functional heartburn reinforces the concept that functional gastrointestinal disorders extend beyond the boundaries suggested by the anatomical location of symptoms. This should be regarded as a further argument to test patients with symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in order to separate patients with functional heartburn from patients with NERD in whom symptoms are associated with gastro-oesophageal reflux.

Characteristics of reflux episodes and symptom association in patients with erosive esophagitis and nonerosive reflux disease: study using combined impedance-pH off therapy.

OBJECTIVES:We sought to compare reflux and symptom association patterns in patients with nonerosive reflux disease (NERD), erosive esophagitis (EE), and in healthy volunteers (HVs).METHODS:Patients with EE and NERD underwent combined impedance–pH monitoring. Normal values were defined on the basis of previously collected data from 48 HVs. We evaluated distal esophageal acid exposure time (AET), number and type of reflux episodes (acid, nonacid), acid and bolus clearance times, proximal extension of reflux episodes, and symptom association probability (SAP).RESULTS:Distal AET (percentage time, pH<4) was higher (P<0.01) in 58 EE patients (median 7.4%, 25–75th percentile 4.2–9.9%) compared with 168 NERD patients (4.2% (1.2–6.4%)) and 48 HVs (0.7% (0.2–1.4%)). Patients with EE and NERD had a higher (P<0.01) number of acid reflux episodes compared with HVs (51 (37–66) vs. 34 (22–51) vs. 17 (8–31); P<0.05), but a similar number of nonacid reflux episodes (22 (15–39) vs. 23 (15–38) vs. 18 (14–26); P=NS). The percentage of reflux episodes reaching the proximal esophagus was higher (P<0.01) in EE patients (57% (45–73%)) than in NERD patients (45% (36–60%)) and HVs (33% (19–46%)). A positive SAP for heartburn or regurgitation was found in 161 of 168 (96%) NERD and 54 of 58 (93%) EE patients (P=NS).CONCLUSIONS:Acid reflux episodes, volume, and acid clearance are important factors in the pathogenesis of reflux-induced lesions. Nonacid reflux contributes less to esophageal mucosa damage, but is involved in the development of reflux symptoms in both NERD and EE patients.

The added value of impedance-pH monitoring to Rome III criteria in distinguishing functional heartburn from non-erosive reflux disease

INTRODUCTION Functional heartburn is defined by Rome III criteria as an endoscopy-negative condition with normal oesophageal acid exposure time, negative symptom association to acid reflux and unsatisfactory response to proton pump inhibitors. These criteria underestimated the role of non-acid reflux. AIM To assess the contribution of impedance-pH with symptom association probability (SAP) analysis in identifying endoscopy-negative patients with reflux disease and separating them from functional heartburn. METHODS Consecutive endoscopy-negative patients treated with proton pump inhibitors (n=219) undergoing impedance-pH monitoring off-therapy were analysed. Distal acid exposure time, reflux episodes, SAP and symptomatic response to proton pump inhibitors were measured. RESULTS Based on impedance-pH/SAP, 67 (31%) patients were pH+/SAP+, 6 (2%) pH+/SAP-, 83 (38%) hypersensitive oesophagus and 63 (29%) functional heartburn. According to pH-metry alone/response to proton pump inhibitors, 62 (28%) were pH+/SAP+, 11 (5%) pH+/SAP-, 61 (28%) hypersensitive oesophagus and 85 (39%) functional heartburn. In the normal-acid exposure population the contribution of impedance-pH/SAP compared to pH-metry alone/response to proton pump inhibitors in identifying patients with reflux disease and functional heartburn resulted to be 10%. In patients with abnormal-acid exposure, the contribution of impedance-pH/SAP increased by 3%. CONCLUSION Comparing impedance-pH testing with pH-metry alone plus the response to proton pump inhibitor therapy demonstrated that the latter ones cause underestimation of reflux disease patients and overestimation of functional heartburn patients.

Characteristics of gastro-esophageal reflux episodes in Barrett's esophagus, erosive esophagitis and healthy volunteers

Background  Gastro‐esophageal reflux is considered a major culprit in the pathogenesis of Barrett’s esophagus (BE). Still, there is controversy on the role of weakly acidic and weakly alkaline reflux in BE. To compare characteristics of reflux episodes patients with BE, erosive esophagitis (EE), and healthy volunteers (HV).

Overweight is a risk factor for both erosive and non-erosive reflux disease

INTRODUCTION Studies have reported that the association between overweight and erosive oesophagitis is very strong, whilst seeming less consistent with non-erosive reflux disease. AIM We have hypothesized that this difference may be due to the heterogeneity of endoscopy-negative population. METHODS We studied 81 patients with erosive oesophagitis, 48 controls and 295 endoscopy-negative patients classified by impedance-pH-testing as: (1) pH-POS (abnormal acid exposure); (2) hypersensitive oesophagus (normal acid exposure/SAP+); (3) functional heartburn (normal acid exposure/SAP-). Body mass index was also calculated. RESULTS Mean body mass index was significantly higher (p<0.05) in erosive oesophagitis than in endoscopy-negative patients as a whole and controls [27 (18-40) vs. 25 (16-48) vs. 23 (16-34)]. However, the separation of endoscopy-negative patients showed that mean body mass index was higher (p<0.05) in those with increased acid exposure time [26 (18-45)] than in hypersensitive oesophagus [24 (16-48)]. The former subgroup was similar to erosive oesophagitis, whilst the latter one to both functional heartburn [23 (16-34)] and controls (p=ns). Increased body mass index represented a risk factor for erosive oesophagitis (odds ratio 1.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-1.6) and non-erosive reflux disease pH-POS subgroup (odds ratio 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-1.5). CONCLUSION Our study shows that overweight represents an important risk factor for erosive oesophagitis and pH-POS non-erosive reflux disease and not for hypersensitive oesophagus and functional heartburn. This provides an explanation for the previously reported lesser role of this variable in non-erosive reflux disease population.

Determinants of alpha‐fetoprotein levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: Implications for its clinical use

α‐Fetoprotein (AFP) is a biomarker commonly used in the management of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), although the possible determinants of its serum levels in these patients have not been adequately explored. For this study, the authors evaluated the relevance of demographic, clinical, and oncologic factors to the presence of elevated AFP levels in large cohort of patients with HCC.

Interferon-related Depression in Hepatitis C Patients: Predictive Value of Bio-psycho-social Factors

Introduction Interferon-related depressive disorders are well known in literature. Despite this, few study have been able to identify reliable predictors of depression Aims Our aim was to examine the predictive value of several bio-psycho-social factors for the development of persistent clinically significant depression in patients affected by HCV treated with IFN. We also aimed at describing the clinical course, treatment and impact on quality of life of depression. Methods We conducted a cohort prospective study with assessments at baseline and at 4, 8, and 24 weeks with clinical interview and self-administered psychometric tests. We evaluated depressive symptoms with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, manic symptoms, anxiety, suicidal ideation, temperament, alexithymia and quality of life with other reliable instruments. Results Preliminary results are available for 61 patients. Depressive symptoms increased significantly during IFN therapy to peak after 4 weeks. A third of patients still suffered clinically significant symptoms after six months. In a multivariate model, the onset of irritability (aOR= 6.5; p=0.03) and living alone (aOR= 7.4; p=0,06) predicted the persistence of depression after 6 months. The preliminary model displayed good levels of specificity and sensitivity. Conclusions Both psychological traits (irritability) and social factors (living alone) predicted the persistence of depression. These findings might prove useful to improve early detection of vulnerable patients and their mental health care in the real clinical world. Larger samples are however needed to confirm these findings.

T1701 Is Nonacid Reflux Increased in Cholecystectomized Patients With Typical Reflux Symptoms? A Study Using Impedance-pH Monitoring

“GASTROPANEL TEST” IN THE CLINICAL OUTCOME OF GERD: PROSPECTIVE SIX MONTHS CLINICAL STUDY L. Guida∗ ,1, P. Perazzo1 , S. Bertolini 1 , E. Morana1, D. Vaira2, C. Scarpignato1 , V. Savarino3 , L. Gatta1, L. Cavallaro4 , G. Cavestro1, M. Rugge3, A. Franze5, F. Di Mario1 1Universita di Parma, Parma; 2Universita di Bologna, Bologna; 3Universita di Padova, Padova; 4Ospedale di Belluno, Belluno; 5Ospedale Maggiore di Parma, Parma

T1695 Reflux Patterns in Patients With Short and Long Segment Barrett's Esophagus, Erosive Esophagitis and Controls: A Study Using Impedance-pH Monitoring

PROXIMALMIGRATION OF REFLUX EPISODES IS A RELEVANT FACTOR IN DISTINGUISHING INTESTINAL METAPLASIA EXTENSION AND REFLUX PERCEPTION BETWEEN PATIENTSWITH SHORT AND LONG-SEGMENT BARRETT’S ESOPHAGUS E. Savarino∗ ,1, P. Zentilin 1 , E. Marabotto1 , G. Sammito1, A. Parodi 1, M. Frazzoni2, D. Lo Cuoco3, V. Savarino1 1Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa; 2Unita di Medicina Interna e Gastroenterologia, Nuovo Ospedale di S. Agostino, Modena; 3Unita di Operativa di Gastroenterologia ed Endoscopia Digestiva, Ospedale Bellaria, Bologna

Possible connection between gastroesophageal reflux and interstitial pulmonary fibrosis in patients with systemic sclerosis [Correlazione tra reflusso gastroesofageo e fibrosi interstiziale polmonare in pazienti affetti da sclerosi sistemica]

Interstitial lung disease represents the main cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic sclerosis. The mechanisms leading to interstitial lung disease are poorly understood and thus current strategies have little effect on this progressive and fatal disease. Therefore, it appears relevant the importance to assess the possible risk factors involved in its pathogenesis. Previous studies in vivo and in vitro suggested that pulmonary fibrosis can occur after repeated aspiration of small amounts of gastric contents over long periods of time. Recently, our group observed that patients with systemic sclerosis and pulmonary fibrosis have a more severe degree of gastroesophageal reflux with a greater number of reflux events and a higher percentage of reflux episodes reaching the proximal esophagus, causing an increasing risk of microaspiration, compared to patients with systemic sclerosis without lung involvement. Further larger controlled studies are necessary to evaluate whether or not the development of interstitial lung disease in systemic sclerosis patients can be prevented by treating gastroesophageal reflux.