Alkaline Intraoesophageal pH and Gastro-oesophageal Reflux in Patients with Peptic Oesophagitis

Abstract

Simultaneous 22-h measurements of intraoesophageal and intragastric pH were made in 22 patients with symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux (7 with peptic oesophagitis, 8 with peptic oesophageal stricture, and 7 with peptic oesophagitis and previous partial gastrectomy) to determine whether alkaline intraoesophageal pH is a consequence of alkaline gastro-oesophageal reflux. In the three groups of patients intraoesophageal pH was >7 for 16.9 ± 4.8%, 27.5 ± 7.6%, and 21.0 ± 7.7%, respectively, of total recording time (p = NS). Intragastric pH > 7 was recorded only in the patients with partial gastrectomy (10.3 ± 5.3% of recording time; p < 0.01 in comparison with the other groups). Elevations of intraoesophageal pH to >7 never occurred during episodes of alkatinization of intragastric pH. These results suggest that refluxed fluids are unlikely to be the cause of alkaline intraoesophageal pH in patients with peptic oesophagitis.

Key Words:

• Gastro-oesophageal reflux
• oesophagitis
• peptic