gastrin-17 and Esophagitis--Peptic

In clinical practice, most patients with symptoms suggestive of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) undergo esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy (EGD), despite its low sensitivity in detecting reflux stigmata. Gastrin 17 (G-17) has been proposed to be related with GERD, due to the negative feedback between acid secretion and this hormone. We assessed the clinical usefulness of fasting G-17 serum determination for a non-invasive diagnosis of GERD in patients with typical symptoms.. We consecutively enrolled patients complaining of typical GERD symptoms in two different settings: a single referral center and a primary care setting. Control groups consisted of dyspeptic patients. All subjects underwent assessment of serum levels of G-17 and EGD.. At the academic hospital, 100 GERD patients (n=89 with erosive esophagitis and 11 with Barrett's esophagus) had statistically significant low levels of G-17 as compared with 184 dyspeptic patients (1.7±1.2 pg/L vs 8.9±5.7 pg/L p<0.0001). Similarly, in the primary care setting, 163 GERD patients had statistically significant low levels of G-17 as compared with 132 dyspeptic patients (0.5±0.2 pg/L vs. 4.0±2.6 pg/L, p<0.0001). Moreover, in the primary care setting, no statistically significant differences were found for G-17 levels between patients with erosive and non-erosive reflux pattern (0.4±0.2 vs 0.7±0.3; p=0.08). In primary care, the accuracy of G-17 less than 1 pg/L to diagnose non-invasively GERD was 94.3%.. Low levels of G-17 were detected in patients with erosive esophagitis and Barrett's esophagus in a referral center and in patients with typical GERD symptoms in a sample of patients from a primary care setting.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Esophagitis, Peptic; Esophagoscopy; Female; Gastrins; Gastroesophageal Reflux; Humans; Male; Middle Aged

The relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and Helicobacter pylori is controversial. We evaluated endoscopic, 24-h gastric and esophageal acid profile among patients with GERD in relation to H. pylori, as the latter might alter gastric acid secretion.. Patients with GERD (n = 123), who were not on acid-suppressive drugs, and had not received anti-H. pylori therapy, underwent gastroduodenoscopy and tests for H. pylori detection. Esophageal manometry, 24-h pH metry, serum pepsinogen-I (PG-I), PG-II and gastrin-17 ELISA were done in all these patients. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess independent predictors for erosive esophagitis (EE).. Of 123 patients (mean age 40.5 [13.1] years, 85 [69.1%] men), 59 (47.9%) had H. pylori infection. EE was more common in H. pylori non-infected than infected (49 vs. 32, p < 0.001). Among patients older than 40 years, absence of H. pylori was associated with lower esophageal pH and longer reflux (p = 0.02 and p < 0.001, respectively). PG-I/PG-II ratio was lower in H. pylori infected subjects (p < 0.001). In patients with higher LA grade of esophagitis, elevated PG-I levels and PG-I/PG-II ratio were associated with more acidic stomach (p = 0.04 and p = 0.01, respectively). Multivariate analyses showed low gastrin-17 (p = 0.016), higher age (p = 0.013), hiatus hernia (p = 0.004) and absence of H. pylori (p = 0.03) were independent predictors for risk of EE.. H. pylori infection is associated with less acidic stomach and less severe GERD. Low gastrin-17, higher age, hiatus hernia and absence of H. pylori were the best predictors for EE risk.

Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Endoscopy, Digestive System; Esophagitis, Peptic; Esophagus; Female; Gastric Acid; Gastric Mucosa; Gastrins; Gastroesophageal Reflux; Helicobacter Infections; Helicobacter pylori; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Male; Middle Aged; Pepsinogen A; Pepsinogen C; Prospective Studies; Severity of Illness Index; Sex Factors