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Esophageal impedance baseline is age dependent

Silvia Salvatore1, Alessandro Salvatoni, Marieke Van Berkel

  • 1*Department of Pediatrics, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy †UZ Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels ‡Systems and Modeling Unit, Montefiore Institute, University of Liege, Belgium §University of Naples "Federico II," Naples, Italy ||King Hussein Medical Center, Amman, Jordan.

Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
|May 24, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Esophageal impedance baseline (IB) is lower in infants, particularly in the first months of life, compared to older children. This finding in pediatric gastroesophageal reflux patients suggests age-related differences in esophageal integrity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Esophageal Physiology
  • Diagnostic Tools

Background:

  • Esophageal integrity is crucial for gastroesophageal reflux (GER) management.
  • Esophageal impedance baseline (IB) is a potential indicator of esophageal integrity.
  • Understanding age-related changes in IB is important for pediatric GER diagnosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of age on esophageal impedance baseline (IB) in a large cohort of pediatric patients.
  • To establish age-related percentiles for IB in children.
  • To explore the correlation between IB and reflux parameters in different age groups.

Main Methods:

  • Multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII) was performed on 816 children with GER symptoms.
  • Automated calculation of mean IB across 24-hour tracings.
  • Statistical analysis included correlation, regression, and ANOVA to assess age effects and relationships with reflux parameters.

Main Results:

  • Mean IB was significantly lower in children under 48 months compared to older children (P < 0.001).
  • IB increased with age, with a higher rate in the first 36 months.
  • Age and reflux index were significant correlates of IB; lower distal IB was observed in patients with esophagitis or on proton pump inhibitors.

Conclusions:

  • Esophageal impedance baseline (IB) is significantly lower in infants and young children.
  • These age-related differences in IB may reflect anatomical and functional variations in the developing esophagus.
  • Low IB in infants may not solely be indicative of esophagitis.
Abstract

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