The clinical pattern of duodenogastric bile reflux in the Kenyan Africans

Forty consecutive African patients found to have duodenogastric bile reflux at endoscopy were studied. Bile reflux was found more commonly among males than females, giving a male/female ratio of 2.3:1, with a peak age at 41-60 years. ABO blood groups had no significant influence on duodenogastric bile reflux. Flatulence and borborygmi were the most consistent symptoms other than the classical dyspeptic pain pattern. Bilious vomiting was a rare finding. Duodenogastric bile reflux was more commonly associated with endoscopic gastritis (67.5%), gastric ulcer (35%) and oesophagitis (30%) than with duodenal ulcer (22.5%), deformed pyloric ring (5%) or distorted duodenal bulb (2.5%). The dysfunction in the pyloric sphincter in people with duodenogastric bile reflux appears to be more of a physiological defect than structural.