Brief Answer:

Depends on treatment.

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

By virtue of nature, the lining of our stomach is resistant to acid. However, the lining of the oesophagus is not resistant to acid.

Therefore in patients with acid reflux, the mucosal lining of oesophagus gets inflamed causing inflammation of that area.

Regular acid reflux for years may cause the same changes in the oesophagus.

To make itself resistant to acid attack the cells in the oesophagus may convert themselves like cells in the stomach (which are acid resistant) which is medically termed as Barett oesophagus and this change increases chances of adenocarcinoma by 10%.

The changes you are having are fully reversible but you need to follow proper therapy for that.

Please request your gastroenterologist to start you on PPI like Esomeprazole. It can be used in the dosage as high as 80 mg twice daily.

Trials have shown that esomeprazole is superior to other PPI's in controlling reflux symptoms.

Also, request him/her to add Domperidone 30mg or Levosulpiride(both are prokinetic)slow release once daily. This will slow down the reflux of acid back. Prokinetic should be added in your regimen.

An antacid containing local anaesthetic (Mucaine gel) should be taken 2tsf thrice daily.

Acotiamide is another wonderful new drug and is very effective in controlling symptoms of GERD and esophagitis.

In trials- Acotiamide, a gastrointestinal motility modulator, at a standard dose of 100mg thrice daily has significantly affected oesophagal motor functions or gastroesophageal reflux in healthy adults.

All these drugs can be considered by your gastroenterologist to provide you with symptomatic relief in your problem. All these medications can be used at a time also by your primary.


To prevent the oesophagal damage from developing into Barett or achalasia cardai. I would suggest you to ask your gastroenterologist to follow aggressive treatment pattern initially.

As your symptoms will improve drugs can be tapered off gradually.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

---

Brief Answer:

Follow up.

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

Barrett's esophagus is a complication of chronic (long-lasting) and usually severe gastrointestinal reflux disease.

So if your symptoms are not suppressing despite of maximal therapy then you should go for an urgent endoscopy to rule out XXXXXXX esophagus.

As you are still having heartburn you should go for a endoscopy.
As such chances are low as you are taking acid inhibitors.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

---

Brief Answer:

follow up.

Detailed Answer:

Hi,

Again chances of it developing into cancer(Adenocarcinoma) is very rare hardly 10% and that too takes years to develop (10-15 years on an average).It has no relation with age. So stay calm and don't panic.

Hope I have answered your query.

Take care

Regards,
Dr Ramesh Kumar, Gastroenterologist

---