PREVALENCE OF REFLUX OESPHAGITIS IN EGYPTIAN PATIENTS WITH LIVER CIRRHOSIS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Departments of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.

2 Departments of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.

Abstract

Reflux esophagitis (RE) is increasing in prevalence in Egypt. There are few studies on the prevalence and factors related to RE in patients with liver cirrhosis. This study determined the prevalence of RE in patients with liver cirrhosis and the possible related predictors of RE. This study was conducted on 150 patients with liver cirrhosis who underwent upper GI endoscopy for different indications. GERD, if present was classified according to Los Angeles Classification, Oseophageal biopsies taken to exclude Barret's oesophagus and microscopic reflux oesphagitis. The results showed that 36 patients had GERD (24 %). The most prevalent was GERD grade (B). Symptomatic GERD was highly prevalent in patients with liver cirrhosis, reported in about (48.67%). Heart burn was the chief symptom with a significant relationship between GERD and severity of the liver disease as assessed by Child-Turcotte-Pugh scoring system. A significant relationship between the severity of GERD and the degree of ascites was demonstrated, as GERD grade (C) was present more frequently in patients with marked ascites. The presence of GERD was significantly associated with the esophageal varices, which could be
amechanical factor contributing to esophageal dysmotility and predisposing to GERD, patients with no GERD by endoscopy (114) microscopically showing microscopic oesphagitis (29.8%), RE (36.8%), while patients with GERD by endoscopy(36) microscopically showing barrets oesphagus (22.3%),RE with mild activity (41.6%),RE with moderate activity (36.1%).

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