[Prevalence of inflammatory changes of gastric and/or duodenal mucosa among children and youth with gastroesophageal reflux].

THE AIM: The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence of inflammatory changes of gastric and / or duodenal mucosa among children and youth with gastroesophageal reflux.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of medical records of 143 patients aged from 2 to 18 years (mean 10.22 years), including 69 girls and 74 boys was performed. Gastroesophageal reflux was diagnosed on the basis of clinical features and 24-h oesophageal pH-metry. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was also simultaneously performed and biopsies of the antrum and duodenum were taken. Patients were divided into two age groups: group 1-36 children aged from 2 to 6 years and group II - 107 patients aged from 7 to 18 years. With regard to the intensity of gastroesophageal reflux patients were divided into two groups: A--71 patients with the percentage of time with pH < 4 between 4 and 10% and B--72 patients with the percentage of time with pH < 4 above 10%. Obtained results were analysed statistically.

RESULTS: Gastritis and/or duodenitis was observed in 121 patients (84.7%), including mild in 84 patients (69.4%), moderate in 32 patients (26.5%) and severe in 5 children (4.1%). Of these patients, 29 (20.3%) were Helicobacter pylori positive. There was no statistically significant difference between prevalence of gastritis and/or duodenitis and the degree of gastroesophageal reflux.

CONCLUSIONS: Mostly mild gastritis and/or duodenitis were observed in the majority of children and youth with gastroesophageal reflux regardless of the Helicobacter pylori status. The prevalence of gastritis and/or duodenitis does not correlate with the intensity of the gastroesophageal reflux in children and youth.