Oesophageal and gastric pH profiles in patients with gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease and Barrett's oesophagus treated with proton pump inhibitors

Summary Background : Acid plays a significant role in the development of gastro‐oesophageal reflux symptoms and tissue damage. It is generally assumed that acid suppressive therapy with proton pump inhibitors improves or eliminates symptoms of gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease by normalizing intra‐oesophageal pH. However, the degree of acid suppression induced by proton pump inhibitor therapy in patients with gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease and/or Barrett's oesophagus has not been adequately studied. Aim : To assess the efficacy of proton pump inhibitors in normalizing intra‐oesophageal and intra‐gastric pH in patients with gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease with and without Barrett's oesophagus who have been rendered symptom‐free by acid‐suppressive therapy. Methods : Patients with gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease and Barrett's oesophagus were prospectively evaluated by dual sensor 24‐h pH monitoring while receiving proton pump inhibitor therapy for complete control of gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease symptoms. Analyses and comparisons of intra‐oesophageal and intra‐gastric pH profiles on therapy were then made. Results : One hundred and ten patients, 98 men and 12 women, with gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease (n = 62) and/or Barrett's oesophagus (n = 48), were studied. All tolerated proton pump inhibitors well and were asymptomatic at the time of the study. Thirty‐six (58%) patients with gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease and 24 (50%) patients with Barrett's oesophagus (P = 0.4) normalized their intra‐oesophageal pH profiles on proton pump inhibitors. Compared with patients with gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease, patients with Barrett's oesophagus were more likely to have higher degree of pathologic acid reflux despite proton pump inhibitor therapy (DeMeester score 50.5 ± 8.2 vs. 31.4 ± 4.6, P = 0.03) and exhibited less intra‐gastric acid suppression (% total pH