Gastro-oesophageal reflux: an aetiological factor for bleeding in oesophageal varices?

The precipitating factor in bleeding oesophageal varices is unknown. To investigate this problem 10 patients who had bled from oesophageal varices were examined by manometry, pH monitoring and gastroscopy to determine whether gastro-oesophageal reflux occurred. No evidence for reflux was found. These results, together with previously published reports, cast doubt on peptic oesophagitis or reflux as an aetiological factor in the initiation of oesophageal variceal bleeding.