Mucosal integrity (MI) is essential for maintaining esophageal health. It refers to the esophageal lining’s ability to act as a critical barrier, preventing harmful substances, such as stomach acid, bile, and pepsin, from penetrating the tissue. A healthy mucosal barrier in the esophagus neutralizes harmful agents. However, when the mucosal barrier is compromised, these substances can penetrate the tissue, leading to symptoms such as heartburn and chest pain. In severe cases, this can lead to esophageal damage and conditions like esophagitis, Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal cancer.
Assessing mucosal integrity is crucial for diagnosing and managing esophageal disorders. Traditional diagnostic methods, such as pH monitoring and biopsies, are valuable but have limitations. Stand-alone pH monitoring may miss acid reflux events and provides only a limited snapshot in time, while biopsies are invasive and may not capture the full extent of mucosal damage.
