Acid Reflux May Cause Colon Polyps

The risk for colon polyps including hyperplastic polyps (HP), tubular adenomas (TA), or sessile serrated adenomas/polyps (SSA/P) is higher among individuals with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), according to a recent study.

Although previous evidence has shown that patients with Barrett’s esophagus have a higher risk for colonic neoplasm, little data exists about whether this risk applies to patients with GERD as well.
________________________________________________________________

RELATED CONTENT
Recurrent Reflux Still Common in Some, Despite Antireflux Surgery
Mediterranean Diet Is as Effective as Pharmacotherapy in Treating Reflux
________________________________________________________________

To explore this further, the researchers evaluated the histopathologic records of 228,506 US patients scheduled to receive bidirectional endoscopy. Patient data were obtained from the Miraca Life Sciences Database. Specifically, the researchers assessed whether the risk for HP, SSA/P, or TA was influenced by the presence of Barrett’s metaplasia, erosive esophagitis on endoscopy or histologic signs of reflux esophagitis, a clinical diagnosis of GERD, or any type of GERD.

Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals for the risk for HA, TA, or SSA/P associated with various types of GERD were calculated via multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results were adjusted for age, sex, and the presence of Helicobacter pylori bacteria.

Findings from the study showed positive associations between GERD and all types of colon polyps, with these associations applying similarly to HP (OR, 1.47), TA (OR, 1.30), and SSA/P (OR, 1.52). The researchers also found that these associations applied to different forms of GERD and that the strongest associations were found with Barrett’s metaplasia or erosive esophagitis vs a clinical diagnosis of GERD.

“All types of GERD represent a risk factor for the occurrence of different colon polyps, such as HP, TA, or SSA/P,” the researchers concluded.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Sonnenberg A, Turner KO, Genta RM. Increased risk for colon polyps in patients with reflux disease [Published online November 17, 2017]. Dig Dis Sci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-017-4841-2.