Erosive esophagitis is a risk factor for Barrett's esophagus: a community-based endoscopic follow-up study.

Objectives: Symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is associated with a significantly increased risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma, but its natural history in the general population is poorly understood. Whether nonerosive reflux disease (NERD) is a risk factor for Barrett's esophagus (BE), the precursor of esophageal adenocarcinoma, is unknown. Furthermore, quantifying the risk of incident BE in those with untreated reflux esophagitis has not been possible.

Functional dyspepsia impairs quality of life in the adult population.

Background: Data on the impact of functional dyspepsia on health-related quality of life in the general adult population are scarce.

Aim:   To explore the impact of functional dyspepsia applying the Rome III definition on health-related quality of life in the general population.

Method: A random sample of an adult Swedish population (n=1001, The Kalixanda study) was invited to undergo an oesophagogastroduodenoscopy.

Use of tobacco products and gastrointestinal morbidity: an endoscopic population-based study (the Kalixanda study).

The impact of snus (smokeless tobacco or snuff) on gastrointestinal symptoms and pathological findings is largely unknown. The authors aimed to investigate whether the exposure to different forms of tobacco influences upper gastrointestinal symptoms, histology and frequency of Helicobacter pylori infection. A random sample (n = 2,860) of the adult population of two northern Swedish municipalities Kalix and Haparanda (n = 21,610) was surveyed between December 1998 and June 2001 using a validated postal questionnaire assessing gastrointestinal symptoms (response rate 74.

Detection of celiac disease and lymphocytic enteropathy by parallel serology and histopathology in a population-based study.

Background & Aims: Although serologic analysis is used in diagnosis of celiac disease, histopathology is considered most reliable. We performed a prospective study to determine the clinical, pathologic, and serologic spectrum of celiac disease in a general population (Kalixanda study).

Methods: A random sample of an adult general population (n = 1000) was analyzed by upper endoscopy, duodenal biopsy, and serologic analysis of tissue transglutaminase (tTg) levels; endomysial antibody (EMA) levels were analyzed in samples that were tTg+.