Alkaline Intraoesophageal pH and Gastro-oesophageal Reflux in Patients with Peptic Oesophagitis

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Abstract
Simultaneous 22-h measurements of intraoesophageal and intragastric pH were made in 22 patients with symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux (7 with peptic oesophagitis, 8 with peptic oesophageal stricture, and 7 with peptic oesophagitis and previous partial gastrectomy) to determine whether alkaline intraoesophageal pH is a consequence of alkaline gastro-oesophageal reflux. In the three groups of patients intraoesophageal pH was > 7 for 16.9 .+-. 4.8%, 27.5 .+-. 7.6%, and 21.0 .+-. 7.7%, respectively, of total recording time (p = NS). Intragastric pH > 7 was recorded only in the patients with partial gastrectomy (10.3 .+-. 5.3% of recording time; p < 0.01 in comparison with the other groups). Elevations of intraoesophageal pH to > 7 never occurred during episodes of alkalinization of intragastric pH. These results suggest that refluxed fluids are unlikely to be the cause of alkaline intraoesophageal pH in patients with peptic oesophagitis.

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