Popis: |
To determine the relation between the sensation of pain in gastroesophageal reflux and the pH of the refluxate, we studied 25 individuals with symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux and positive Bernstein tests. We quantitatively assessed the sensitivity of the esophageal mucosa to pain associated with the intraesophageal infusion of eight different HCl solutions (pH 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 4, 5, and 6). Test solutions were infused at 8 ml/min through an eight-lumen catheter with the arifices placed 5 cm above the lower esophageal sphincter. Each subject received all eight solutions in a double-blind randomized fashion. The time-to-pain onset increased with increasing pH; i.e., there was a highly significant difference between the time-to-pain and pH (p |