Subacute Erosive (Peptic) Esophagitis Associated with Achlorhydria

Abstract

THE opinion that common erosive esophagitis is caused by surface contact with acid-pepsin material refluxed from the stomach continues to be expressed, and the terms "reflux," "regurgitant" and "peptic" are in common use to describe this form of esophageal disease. Histopathologic observations previously described¹ make it difficult to believe that surface contact with gastric secretions could account for esophagitis; rather, the microscopical evidence suggests that the inflammatory process begins in the mucosa's tunica propria and the submucosa and that the epithelial surface becomes involved only by upward extension of the inflammation from below. These findings appear to have been confirmed . . .