BMC Gastroenterology (May 2008)

Time esophageal pH < 4 overestimates the prevalence of pathologic esophageal reflux in subjects with gastroesophageal reflux disease treated with proton pump inhibitors

  • Sloan Sheldon,
  • Robinson Malcolm,
  • Young Winston,
  • Sahbaie Peyman,
  • Triadafilopoulos George,
  • Gerson Lauren B,
  • Miner Philip B,
  • Gardner Jerry D

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-230X-8-15
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 8, no. 1
p. 15

Abstract

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Abstract Background A Stanford University study reported that in asymptomatic GERD patients who were being treated with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), 50% had pathologic esophageal acid exposure. Aim We considered the possibility that the high prevalence of pathologic esophageal reflux might simply have resulted from calculating acidity as time pH Methods We calculated integrated acidity and time pH Results The prevalence of pathologic 24-hour esophageal reflux in both studies was significantly higher when measured as time pH Conclusion In GERD subjects treated with a PPI, measuring time esophageal pH