Chronic Oesophagitis due to Reflux Disease

Question 1

What is it?

Answer 1

• Inflammation of the oesophagus due to refluxed low pH gastric content
• May be due to defective sphincter mechanism +/- hiatus hernia
• Abnormal oesophagus motility
• Increased intra-abdominal pressure (pregnancy)

Question 2

How does it present?

Answer 2

• Basal zone epithelium expansion, intraepithelial neutrophils, lymphocytes and eosinophils
• Haematemesis
• Iron deficiency anaemia from chronic blood loss

Question 3

What are the complications/side effects?

Answer 3

Ulceration (bleeding)
Stricture
Barrett’s Oesophagus

Question 4

What is Barrett’s oesophagus?

Answer 4

Replacement of stratified epithelium by columnar epithelium