Value of the esophageal pH monitoring on the diagnosis of endoscopic-negative gastro-esophageal reflux disease

Objective To investigate the role of ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring on the diagnosis of endoscopic-negnative gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD). Methods Data of consecutive forty-two patients who clinical diagnosed as GERD but negnative in endoscopic exam were analyzed with ambulatory 24hrs esophageal pH monitoring. Results 36 (85.71%) of the 42 patients were diagnosed as GERD with ambulatory 24hrs esophageal pH monitoring. The acid exposure index of the study group was significant higher than the counterpart of the control group (t=7.95, 6.38, 6.12, 7.34, 7.86, 6.06, P0.05). There were more GERD in old age than young patients (χ2=6.36,P0.05). Conclusions Ambulatory 24hrs esophageal pH monitoring is a good tool for the diagnosis of endoscopic-negative GERD.