SIMULTANEOUS 2-LEVEL ESOPHAGEAL 24-HOUR PH MONITORING IN PATIENTS WITH MILD AND SEVERE ESOPHAGITIS - DOES PROBE POSITION INFLUENCE RESULTS OF ESOPHAGEAL MONITORING

Simultaneous ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring was performed in 10 p atients (group 1) with normal distal acid exposure and in 40 patients (group 2) with pathological distal reflux. The probes were placed 5 an d 10 cm above the lower esophageal sphincter to quantify variations of pH values that can be due to a displacement of pH sensor. In group 1 the median percent time with pH <4 for total and upright monitoring pe riods and composite score were significantly lower at the proximal tha n the distal level. In group 2 all pH data were significantly lower at the proximal than the distal level. The patients with pathological re flux were subdivided into two subgroups based on endoscopic findings ( mild and severe esophagitis). The patients with severe esophagitis sho wed a proximal acid reduction higher than in patients with mild esopha gitis. Nine patients with mild esophagitis showed normal values at 10 cm, but all patients with severe esophagitis had abnormal proximal aci d exposure.