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Radially asymmetric gastroesophageal acid reflux in the distal esophagus: examinations with novel pH sensor catheter equipped with 8 pH sensors
Journal of Gastroenterology, 05/21/2012
Clinical Article
Ohara S et al. – Radial acid exposure could be examined using the novel 8–channel pH sensor catheter. The authors found that the directions of longer acid exposure were associated with the locations of mucosal breaks.
Methods- The authors developed a novel pH sensor catheter using a polyvinyl chloride catheter equipped with 8 antimony pH sensors radially arrayed at the same level.
- Four healthy volunteers, 5 patients with non–erosive reflux disease (NERD), and 10 with LA grade A or B esophagitis were enrolled.
- The sensors were set 2 cm above the upper limit of the lower esophageal sphincter, and post–prandial gastroesophageal acid reflux was monitored for 3 h with the subjects in a sitting position.
- They successfully examined radial acid exposure in the distal esophagus in all subjects using the novel pH sensor catheter.
- Radial variations of acid exposure in the distal esophagus were not observed in the healthy subjects.
- In contrast, the patients with NERD and those with reflux esophagitis had radial asymmetric acid exposure that was predominant on the right wall of the distal esophagus.
- In the majority of patients with reflux esophagitis, the directions of longer acid exposure coincided with the locations of mucosal breaks.
