OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes of ultra-micro structure of esophageal epithelium in patients with erosive esophagitis before and after omeprazole treatment.METHODS: 20 patients with erosive esophagitis diagnosed with gastroscopy were enrolled. All of them were treated with omeprazole (20 mg, 2/d) for 4 weeks, then underwent gastroscopy again. Biopsies were taken from 2 cm above Z-line. All the patients completed the questionnaire about reflux symptoms before and after the treatment.RESULTS: Before the treatment the mean, maximal and minimal intercellular spaces of esophageal epithelium were (1.14+/-0.15) microm, (1.47+/-0.15) microm and (0.85+/-0.17) microm respectively; after the treatment the mean, maximal and minimal intercellular spaces of esophageal epithelium were (0.51+/-0.18) microm, (0.72+/-0.25) microm, (0.36+/-0.15) microm respectively, with significant differences before and after the treatment (P=0.000).CONCLUSION: The dilated intercellular spaces of esophageal epithelium in erosive esophagitis patients can be recovered after a short time treatment of proton pump inhibitors.
Adolescent Adult