Grasp biopsy, suction biopsy, and clinical history in the evaluation of esophagitis in infants 0-6 months of age.

Fifty-three infants 0-6 months of age with abnormal 24-h intraesophageal pH monitoring were evaluated by esophageal suction biopsies and endoscopic grasp biopsies. Histologic esophagitis was present in 30% of the infants. Of the infants with esophagitis, 88% were accurately identified by suction biopsy, and 75% were accurately identified by endoscopic grasp biopsy. Suction biopsy alone was not significantly different from combined grasp and suction biopsy, while differences between grasp biopsy and combined biopsy approached significance (p = 0.051). Twelve clinical symptoms and 21 intraesophageal pH monitoring parameters were evaluated for their ability to predict esophagitis, and none were found to be useful. We conclude that endoscopic esophageal biopsy, while more costly, offers no advantage over suction biopsy for the detection of esophagitis in young infants.