Vascular changes in the esophageal mucosa. An early histologic sign of esophagitis.

The histologic features of esophagitis were studied in 18 patients with clinical evidence of reflux and in 20 normal subjects. Striking vascular changes were observed in addition to superficial acute inflammatory changes, basal zone hyperplasia, and close proximity of the stromal papillae to the epithelial surface. These lesions corresponded to endoscopically observed red points or strips of the esophageal mucosa. These vascular phenomena probably represent the first sign of esophagitis recognizable endoscopically as well as histologically.