Histologic abnormalities in routine biopsies of patients with esophagitis and different gastric acid secretion

Intraepithelial eosinophilic granulocytes were previously reported to evidence prolonged acid reflux in patients with reflux esophagitis. The following study was performed to investigate whether or not these histologic abnormalities are specific to patients with esophagitis and high H+ ion activity of the gastric juice. Esophagitis was proved endoscopically in all patients. Biopsy specimens were obtained during endoscopy by forceps biopsy from the area involved. Afterwards an acid secretion test to determine basal and pentagastrin-stimulated H+ ion activity and a Bernstein test were performed. Histologic findings were correlated with the results of the acid secretion test. In this study, the occurrence of intraepithelial eosinophils was similar in patients with high and with low gastric acid output, but was overall low in these patients and has not proved to be a specific diagnostic criterion for reflux.