Relationship between Esophageal Cardiac Glands and Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
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- Hanada Kozue
- Health Center, Shimane Environment and Health Public Corporation, Japan
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- Adachi Kyoichi
- Health Center, Shimane Environment and Health Public Corporation, Japan
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- Mishiro Tomoko
- Health Center, Shimane Environment and Health Public Corporation, Japan
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- Tanaka Shino
- Health Center, Shimane Environment and Health Public Corporation, Japan
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- Takahashi Yoshiko
- Health Center, Shimane Environment and Health Public Corporation, Japan
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- Yoshikawa Kazuaki
- Health Center, Shimane Environment and Health Public Corporation, Japan
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- Kinoshita Yoshikazu
- The Second Department of Internal Medicine, Shimane University Faculty of Medicine, Japan
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Abstract
Objective The role of esophageal cardiac glands has not been fully determined. This study was performed to clarify the protective role of esophageal cardiac glands against the development of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).<br> Methods The subjects included 2,656 Japanese individuals who visited our institution for a detailed medical checkup. GERD symptoms were assessed using the Japanese version of the Carlsson-Dent self-administered questionnaire (QUEST) and an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy examination in each subject. The presence of reflux esophagitis, size of diaphragmatic hiatus, degree of gastric mucosal atrophy and existence of visible esophageal cardiac glands in the distal esophagus, based on the detection of yellowish elevated areas, were determined using endoscopy.<br> Results Esophageal cardiac glands were observed in 355 cases (13.4%). Reflux esophagitis was significantly less frequent in the cases with esophageal cardiac glands than in those without. The esophageal cardiac glands were mainly located on the left-posterior side of the esophageal wall of the distal esophagus. A multiple regression analysis showed that the presence of esophageal cardiac glands was an independent factor for preventing reflux esophagitis. On the other hand, the existence of these glands did not correlate with the presence of GERD symptoms (QUEST score of 6 or more).<br> Conclusion The presence of visible esophageal cardiac glands may have a protective role against the development of reflux esophagitis.<br>
Journal
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- Internal Medicine
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Internal Medicine 54 (2), 91-96, 2015
The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine