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204 ENDOSCOPIC EVIDENCE OF BILE REFLUX IS A STRONG INDEPENDENT FACTOR ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRESENCE OF BARRETT’S ESOPHAGUS


 
 
 Several basic researches have indicated that there is a significant relationship between bile reflux and the pathogenesis of Barrett’s esophagus (BE). However, only few clinical studies have been reported regarding the endoscopic finding of bile reflux and Barrett’s esophagus. Our objective is to evaluate whether the endoscopic evidence of bile reflux is an independent factor associated with the presence of BE.
 
 
 
 We conducted a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database comprised of consecutive Japanese patients who underwent screening gastroscopy. Endoscopic findings of BE, reflux esophagitis, atrophic gastritis and sliding hernia were recorded. Evaluation of a BE was based on the Prague criteria. Endoscopic evidence of bile reflux was defined as the presence of yellow or green juice observed by white light image or red juice by narrow band image (NBI) in the gastric fundus. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors that differed significantly between patients with or without BE.
 
 
 
 A total of 454 patients were enrolled; 124 (27%) had BE and 126 (28%) had endoscopic evidence of bile reflux. Compared to patients without BE, patients with BE were more likely to be old, male and to have sliding hernia and endoscopic evidence of bile reflux on univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, endoscopic evidence of bile reflux was a stronger independent factor associated with BE (odds ratio(OR) 11.3, 95% confidence interval(CI) 6.56–19.4) compared to the presence of sliding hernia (OR 3.58, 95%CI 2.14–6.0).
 
 
 
 Endoscopic evidence of bile reflux identified by white light or NBI is a strong independent factor associated with the presence of BE, implying that this finding should be considered as an important parameter to determine the surveillance strategy for gastroesophageal reflux disease patients same as the presence of sliding hernia.
