Sabban JC et al. – The study determined the importance of esophageal baseline impedance (BI) values in the prediction of esophagitis in children. The results showed that BI on channel 6 may be useful than upper endoscopy for predicting severe esophageal mucosa inflammation and for follow–up evaluation. Channel 6 BI measurement gave 100% prediction of grade 3 and macroscopic esophagitis.

Methods

• Multichannel intraluminal impedance (MII) tracings of 87 children suspected of having gastroesophageal reflux and esophagitis, who had also undergone upper endoscopy with multiple esophageal biopsies, were reviewed.

Results

• Channel 6 of the MII showed BI <900 Ω/s in all 10 patients with grade 3 esophagitis and 8 patients with macroscopic esophagitis, and none of the patients with a biopsy score of 0 to 2 or without endoscopic evidence of esophagitis had a mean BI <2000 Ω/s.