Fundal gastritis as a potential cause of reflux oesophagitis

Abstract

The transient lower oesophageal sphincter relaxations which allows reflux may be due to altered afferent pathways from the fundus. We aimed to determine whether fundal inflammation is the underlying cause. Two endoscopic biopsies were taken from each of the gastric antrum and fundus in 25 asymptomatic controls with a normal endoscopy (median age 54 range 13-83 years), and 33 patients with erosive oesophagitis (median age 52, 11-78 years). No patient had taken acid suppression therapy or antibiotics for at least 1 month. Sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and Giemsa stain and examined in a blinded fashion by one pathologist for the presence of gastritis (Sydney classification) ..