Relationship of heartburn with histopathological changes in esophagus and stomach in patients with duodenal ulcer.

Histopathological changes in the esophagus and gastric antrum were studied in 47 patients with duodenal ulcer. Twenty three (49%) patients complained of heartburn. Esophagitis was present in 87% of the patients with heartburn and in 71% of the patients with no heartburn. In the majority, esophagitis was of mild to moderate severity. Gastritis was present in 83% (atrophic type in 22%) of patients with heartburn compared to 96% (25% atrophic type) of patients without heartburn. There was no statistical difference in the incidence of esophagitis and gastritis between the heartburn and no heartburn groups. This study suggests that histologic esophagitis and gastritis occur frequently in patients with duodenal ulcer and the presence of heartburn is not related to these histologic changes.