PATHOMORPHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE REALIZATION IN YOUNG PEOPLE WITH AUTOIMMUNE...

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Endocrinology
• Pathomorphology

Background:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is common in young adults.
• Autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) is an endocrine disorder with increasing prevalence.
• The impact of comorbid GERD and euthyroid AIT on esophageal pathology is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the pathomorphological characteristics of the esophageal mucosa in young individuals with concurrent GERD and autoimmune thyroiditis.
• To compare these features with those in individuals with isolated GERD.

Main Methods:

• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy and histological examination were performed on 120 patients with GERD and AIT and 45 patients with isolated GERD.
• Comparative morphometry of the esophageal mucosa was utilized to assess structural changes.
• Patients were matched for age, gender, and social status.

Main Results:

• While the frequency of erosive GERD did not differ between groups, patients with comorbid GERD and AIT showed a statistically significant increase in higher grades of esophagitis.
• Histological analysis revealed significantly more severe morphometric parameters in the GERD and AIT group, including increased epithelium thickness, basal layer thickness, papillae height, and intercellular space.
• Epithelium basal layer hyperplasia, dystrophic changes, epithelial edema, papillae elongation, and intercellular space dilation were more frequent in the comorbid group.

Conclusions:

• Comorbidity of GERD and euthyroid AIT in the student population is associated with a significant aggravation of esophagitis grades.
• The presence of euthyroid AIT exacerbates esophageal mucosal epithelial disorganization in patients with non-erosive GERD.