Simple Diagnostic Method of Symptomatic Gastroesophageal Reflux in Neonate.
- Author:
Ji Yeon CHOI
1
;
Soo Nam BAE
;
Jae Woo LIM
;
Eun Jung CHEON
;
Kyong Og KO
;
Young Hyuk LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Konyang University, Daejon, Korea. kokojh@hitel.net
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux;
Oral pH;
Gastric pH
- MeSH:
Esophageal pH Monitoring;
Gastroesophageal Reflux*;
Humans;
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration;
Infant, Newborn*;
Mass Screening;
Prospective Studies;
Sensitivity and Specificity
- From:Journal of the Korean Society of Neonatology
2006;13(1):68-74
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to identify usefulness of simple oral and gastric pH measurement using pH paper on detection of symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux in neonates. METHODS: This prospective study included a total of 66 neonates born at Konyang University Hospital from June 2004 to June 2005. Each neonate's oral and gastric pH levels measured with pH paper at 6 hourly intervals. Suspected gastroesophageal refluex neonates were studied 24-hr lower esophageal pH monitoring or upper GI series and confirmed. We compared oral and gastric pH between symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux (GER) group and asymptomatic (control) group. RESULTS: GER group consist of 12 neonates and control group consist of 54 neonates. Oral and gastric pH were 5.4+/-0.6, 2.9+/-0.5 in GER group, 6.0+/-0.3, 3.9+/-0.9 in control group, the differences between two groups were significant (P<0.05). All neonates of GER group were corfirmed gastroesophageal reflux by 24-hr lower esophageal pH monitoring or upper GI series studies. Our data indicate as a predictor for significantly symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux, at oral pH 5.75, has a sensitivity 92%, specificity 89%, positive predictive value of 65%, and negative predictive value of 98%. The difference between oral and gastric pH (oral pH-gastric pH) was not significant in each group. CONCLUSION: In neonates with symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux oral and gastric pH were significantly lower than asymptomatic neonates. Oral and gastric pH were related with clinically significant symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux. We suggest that pH measurement could be a possible simple screening test of symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux.
