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Novel Device Can Safely Detect Esophageal Disorders

A new balloon mucosal impedance (MI) catheter system can safely detect and evaluate gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), and other esophageal disorders by instantly identifying changes in esophageal mucosal integrity during endoscopy, according to a new study.
Because the diagnostic results from transnasal catheters or wireless pH monitoring can provide abnormal intraluminal refluxate, the researchers sought to create an alternate diagnostic device. To test the efficacy and safety of the balloon MI catheter system, the researchers analyzed data on 69 participants who were undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy with or without wireless pH monitoring.
Participants were classified into 3 groups: 24 had GERD (defined as erosive esophagitis or abnormal pH), 21 had EoE (confirmed with pathology analysis of tissues from both distal and proximal esophagus), and 24 had non-GERD (defined as normal results from esophagogastroduodenoscopy and pH tests).
The accuracy of balloon MI in diagnosis was evaluated by comparing the receiver operating characteristic curves with the area under those curves.
The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve measured 0.67 for GERD, 0.84 for EoE, and 0.83 for non-GERD.
A significant difference in the MI pattern along the esophageal axis was observed among the 3 groups.
Participants with non-GERD had higher MI values along all measured segments. Those with GERD had MI values low in the distal esophagus and normalized along the proximal esophagus. Those with EoE had measurements that were low in all segments of the esophagus.
An adverse event was reported in 1 participant who had mild chest pain after the procedure.

REFERENCE:
Patel DA, Higginbotham T, Slaughter JC, et al. Development and validation of a mucosal impedance contour analysis system to distinguish esophageal disorders [published online February 1, 2019].Gastroenterology. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2019.01.253.