Gastric secretion and emptying of liquids in reflex esophagitis

We have investigated the gastric secretory activity and the emptying half-time of a liquid meal in 17 selected patients with reflex esophagitis compared to 10 controls. The basal acid output and the basal and maximal secretory volume were higher in the patient group (P less than 0.05, P = 0.05, and P less than 0.01, respectively), while the maximal acid output and the basal and maximal acid concentration were not different in the two groups. The gastric emptying half-time of a liquid meal was higher in the patient group (P less than 0.001). Our results show that gastric function may be altered in reflux esophagitis patients and suggest particularly that a delayed emptying of liquids may play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease in some patients.