Abstract :
Background: Heartburn and acid regurgitation have been recognized as specific GERD symptoms in
western country. Whether these symptoms specific for GERD in Thai patients have not been well explored .
Objective: To determine the association between upper GI symptoms and GERD as determined by 24-
hour esophageal pH monitoring.
Patients and Methods: Ninety-eight patients with upper GI symptoms (22 males, 76 females, age 15-
80 years) underwent 24 hour esophageal pH monitoring. Peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer were excluded by
esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) . All patients were interviewed about their upper GI symptoms by a gastro-
enterologist. Upper GI symptoms were evaluated including; heartburn, acid regurgitation, abdominal fullness,
early satiety, nausea, epigastrium pain/discomfort, dysphagia and globus sensation.
Results: There were 53 GERD patients (17 males, 36 females, age 46.11 +/- 14.203). GERD patients had
more reflux episodes and percent time pH <4 than non GERD patients. GERD patients had significant more weigh
than non GERD patients (p = 0.028) . There were no significant different of the upper GI symptoms between
GERD and non GERD patients.
Conclusion: For diagnosis of GERD, clinical presentations alone were not reliable and physician may
need other methods for diagnosis of GERD such as PPI test, which warrant further research study.
[Thai J Gastroenterol 2004; 5(3): 146-150] |
file/Thai-Journal-of-gastroenterology-vol-5-no-3-19354.pdf