Barrett's Esophagus: What Is It?

Barrett's esophagus is sometimes also referred to as Barrett esophagus or Barrett's syndrome. The disease involves an abnormal change or metaplasia, in the cells located in the lower part of the esophagus. With Barrett's esophagus, normal esophageal tissue is replaced by goblet cells, which are usually located in the lower portion of the gastrointestinal tract.

Barrett's Esophagus: Causes

When a person eats, food passes from the throat and into the stomach via the esophagus.

There is a ring of muscular fibers in the lower part of the esophagus that prevents food from being moved back upward after it is swallowed. If the muscles do not close tightly enough, it can result in stomach acid being regurgitated and leaking into the esophagus. The condition is referred to as gastroesophageal reflux or simply called reflux, and it can be extremely damaging over time.

According to Medline Plus, Barrett's esophagus happens in more men than women. People who experience gastroesophageal reflux disorder for a long period of time are more likely to suffer from Barrett's esophagus.

Barrett's Esophagus: Signs And Symptoms

The esophageal tissue changes that result from Barrett's esophagus will not cause any symptoms. However, there are signs and symptoms a person may experience due to gastroesophageal reflux and these can include the following:

• Difficulty swallowing food
• Frequent and intense heartburn
• A less common symptom is chest pain

Many individuals suffering from Barrett's esophagus will not display any outward signs or have any symptoms.

When To See A Doctor

If a person has had more than five years of consistent problems with heartburn or acid reflux, it is important to discuss the possibility of Barrett's esophagus with a physician. It is important to seek immediate medical attention if any of the following things occur:

• Passing of black bloody or tar-like stool
• Chest pain, which could be a warning sign of a heart attack
• Difficulty swallowing
• Vomiting that contains blood or blood that looks like coffee grounds

Barrett's Esophagus: Risk Factors

There are certain factors that can lead to an increase of a person developing Barrett's syndrome. The risk factors include:

• Age: Barrett's esophagus can happen to anybody at any age, but it more commonly occurs in older adults.
• Being overweight: Having body fat around the abdomen results in a higher risk of Barrett's esophagus.
• Chronic heartburn and acid reflux: If a person has gastroesophageal reflux or chronic heartburn, that requires the use of daily acid reducing information, it could increase the risk of Barrett's esophagus.
• Being male: A man is more likely to develop Barrett's esophagus than a woman.
• Being Caucasian: Caucasians have a higher risk of Barrett's esophagus than other races.
• Smoking

Barrett's Esophagus: Mechanism Of Action

Barrett's esophagus happens because of chronic inflammation. The main cause of the disease is gastroesophageal reflux.

See Also: Twisted Esophagus: Esophageal Spasm

Medical researchers are not able to determine exactly which people with heartburn will eventually develop Barrett's esophagus. Even though no relationship between the severity of heartburn and the occurrence of Barrett's esophagus has been established; there is a relationship between chronic heartburn and the disease.

Barrett's Esophagus: Possible Complications

According to the Mayo Clinic, people who have Barrett's esophagus are at an increased risk of developing esophageal cancer. People whose lab testing showed no dysplasia, are still at a small risk of developing esophageal cancer and these individuals should be routinely monitored and screened. 

Barrett's Esophagus: Testing And Diagnosis

There are some diagnostic tests a doctor may order if it is suspected a person has Barrett's esophagus. A person may need to have macroscopic (endoscopy) and microscopic testing performed to provide a definitive diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus. An endoscopy may be performed, particularly if a person is suffering from severe gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. Some physicians may take a biopsy of tissues from different portions of the esophagus during an endoscopy, this is done to help the diagnostic process as well as to check for any type of dysplasia (precancerous changes).

Barrett's Esophagus: Treatment

A lot of people who have Barrett's esophagus do not have dysplasia. Medical professionals recommend someone with Barrett's esophagus have two endoscopies and a biopsy done to confirm any possible presence of dysplasia. If no dysplasia is found, the person will not need to have another endoscopy performed for about two or three years.

Barrett's Esophagus: Lifestyle Modifications And Home Treatment

There are some lifestyle modifications and home care a person can do to help ease the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux. A person should maintain a healthy weight, avoid constricting clothing around the abdomen, eliminate foods and drinks that trigger heartburn and stop smoking to minimize the chances of developing Barrett's Esophagus. Other remedies which can improve the disorder include not lying down after eating, no stooping or bending after eating and raising the head of one's bed to keep the upper body raised and stomach contents down.

Current medical recommendations include routine biopsies and endoscopy, to check for any possible changes or dysplasia.

The most common method of treating Barrett's esophagus is through the use of proton pump inhibitor medications. In cases of severe dysplasia, laser treatment may be used and if there is any malignancy, it is addressed through surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. There is no evidence to suggest that people with Barrett's syndrome will develop esophageal cancer at some point in the future, but monitoring is necessary.

See Also: Esophagitis and Gastroduodenal Disorders: Symptoms and treatment

Barrett's Esophagus: Prognosis

Barrett's esophagus can be an extremely uncomfortable medical condition. Seeking treatment for Barrett's esophagus should improve or alleviate the bothersome and uncomfortable symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disorder and it may help it from condition getting worse. None of the treatments used for Barrett's esophagus will reverse the changes in the esophageal tissue that can cause cancer, which is why regular medical care is very important.