I'm sharing my full experience with LPR (silent reflux) testing, including the results and what it means for treatment, as well as a deep dive Q&A into all things LPR.
My understanding is that the risk is likely lower with LPR than GERD, but it's not zero. Barrett's ultimately is a result of inflammation, and both acid and non-acid reflux can cause that (bile reflux has been implicated in Barrett's, for example). For those who don't also have GERD, the overall risk is quite low - in the general population, the prevalence of Barrett's is only about 0.5–2% (compared to 5–15% in people with chronic GERD). And for reference, of everyone diagnosed with Barrett's, the vast majority have no cellular dysplasia, meaning their risk of it progressing into cancer is about 0.1% to 0.3% per year. So, whether LPR or GERD, it's not that it carries zero risk, but the overall risk is still low. I believe the highest risk tends to be in those with long-standing, symptomatic GERD who have additional risk factors like smoking, obesity, and being male.
So if LPR doesn’t typically involve acid, can one presume Barrett’s is unlikely to be an issue for folks with true LPR?
My understanding is that the risk is likely lower with LPR than GERD, but it's not zero. Barrett's ultimately is a result of inflammation, and both acid and non-acid reflux can cause that (bile reflux has been implicated in Barrett's, for example). For those who don't also have GERD, the overall risk is quite low - in the general population, the prevalence of Barrett's is only about 0.5–2% (compared to 5–15% in people with chronic GERD). And for reference, of everyone diagnosed with Barrett's, the vast majority have no cellular dysplasia, meaning their risk of it progressing into cancer is about 0.1% to 0.3% per year. So, whether LPR or GERD, it's not that it carries zero risk, but the overall risk is still low. I believe the highest risk tends to be in those with long-standing, symptomatic GERD who have additional risk factors like smoking, obesity, and being male.
Thanks for the response!!!