[Instrumental diagnosis of reflux esophagitis].

One hundred and forty patients with clinical symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease were examined. Instrumental examination included esophagogastroduodenoscopy (140 patients) with target biopsy (44 patients), x-ray study of the esophagus and stomach (95), intragastric pH-metry (74), esophagomanometry (67). It is demonstrated that all the patients with clinical picture of gastroesophageal reflux disease suffer from reflux-esophagitis (RE) of various severity. Definite morphological equivalents correspond to each of endoscopic forms of RE. Complex instrumental diagnosis of RE must include intragastric pH-metry and esophagomanometry in line with esophagogastroduodenoscopy and morphological study. It is necessary to perform x-ray study in peptic strictures of the esophagus and in combination of RE with large axial hiatal hernias. Cardial or cardial-fundal hiatal hernia, increase of intragastric pressure and hyperacidity promote development of the most severe (destructive) forms of RE.