Alkaline gastritis and alkaline esophagitis: a review.

Alkaline gastritis and alkaline esophagitis are now precisely defined syndromes. They occur most often after gastric surgery in which function of the pyloric and lower esophageal sphincter is compromised. Reflux of bile in these patients can then lead to severe inflammation of the gastric and lower esophageal mucosa. Epigastric pain, nausea and bilious vomiting are characteristic symptoms. Gastroscopy with biopsy is, therefore, the definitive diagnostic test; during endoscopy bile is seen in the lower esophagus or stomach, and the mucosa is red, friable and contains acute erosions. Conservative therapy including the administration of cholestyramine has not been helpful. Surgery consisting of diversion of the duodenal contents away from the stomach and lower esophagus is the treatment of choice. The Roux-en-Y procedure has been used most often and has resulted in the amelioration of the symptoms and signs in most patients.