Twenty-four hour pH monitoring during pregnancy and at postpartum: a preliminary study.

Objective: To quantify the amount of acid refluxed in symptomatic pregnant women and compare this to the postpartum period.

Methods: Eight non complicated symptomatic pregnant women were enrolled. The mean age was 28+/-6.3 years and gestational age 26+/-4.4 weeks at inclusion. Repeated measurements were done at 9.8+/-6.5 weeks postpartum. Esophageal manometry and 24h pH monitoring were performed at each time period.

Results: Heartburn (HB), regurgitation and dysphagia were the main presenting symptoms, however only regurgitation was significantly more frequent during pregnancy (P=0.01). Lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure was significantly lower during pregnancy (P=0.001). Twenty-four hour pH monitoring variables were worse and the number of reflux episodes and the upright reflux reached statistical significance (P=0.03, and 0.01, respectively).

Conclusion: Pregnancy is associated with decreased LES pressure, more frequent episodes of reflux and upright reflux.