ABSTRACT
Hong Kong Med J 2002;8:168-71 | Number 3, June 2002
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Normal 24-hour ambulatory proximal and distal gastroesophageal reflux parameters in Chinese
WHC Hu, NYH Wong, KC Lai, WM Hui, KF Lam, BCY Wong, HHX Xia, CK Chan, AOO Chan, WM Wong, KWT Tsang, SK Lam
Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, 102 Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong
OBJECTIVE. To quantify normal proximal and distal oesophageal acid parameters in healthy Chinese.
DESIGN. Observational study.
SETTING. University teaching hospital, Hong Kong.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS. Twenty healthy adults who were not on medication and were free from gastrointestinal symptoms were recruited by advertisement. Ambulatory oesophageal acid (pH <4) exposure parameters were recorded at distal and proximal sites, 5 and 20 cm, respectively above the lower oesophageal sphincter.
RESULTS. The 95th percentile for reflux parameters assessed in the distal/proximal oesophagus were: percent total time pH <4, 4.6/0.7%; percent upright time pH <4, 7.0/1.1%; percent supine time pH <4, 4.5/0.5%; number of reflux episodes, 73/12; number of reflux episodes with pH <4 for >5 minutes, 4/0; and the longest single acid exposure episode, 11.2/3.0 minutes.
CONCLUSION. Physiological gastroesophageal reflux occurs in healthy Chinese. These initial data provide a preliminary reference range that could be utilised by laboratories studying Chinese subjects.
Key words: Gastroesophageal reflux; Hong Kong
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