Review for 10.1186/s12876-017-0670-1 (2017)

Reviewer’s report  
 
Title: LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF GASTROOESOPHAGEAL REFLUX AND EROSIVE 
TOOTH WEAR  
 
Version: 0 Date: 01 May 2017  
 
Reviewer: Aurelio Mauro  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
In this well conducted study authors wanted to evaluate the progression of erosive too th wear in 
a oligosymptomatic cohort of patients (57 patients with GERD symptoms < 2 per week) with 
positive pH -MII treated with a continous PPI (esomeprazolo 20 mg once) for one year. They 
observed in the majority of patients (74%) no progression of erosi ve tooth wear at one year (in 
59 patients and at 2 years in 12 patients). However, as the author stated in the discussion, there 
are no data of erosive tooth wear progression in a control group of patient without taking PPI due 
to decision of the Ethical r eview board. However personally I'm not agree with this decision 
because I don't think that oligo or asymptomatic patients without erosive esophagitis needs 
continuative PPIs; therefore the inclusion of control group of asymptomatic patients, without 
takin g PPI or taking PPI cyclically during the year, should have been included.  
Nonetheless I think that this paper illustrates something new in literature. However they have to 
discuss the clinical outcome of the study: is it feasible to prescribe longlife PPI s in oligo or 
asymptomatic patients just to avoid erosive tooth wear progression? I don't think so and it should 
be underlined in the discussion.  
It could be useful do describe the progression rate of erosive tooth wear dividing symptomatic 
and oligo sympt omatic patients.  
 
Minor comments:  
- How it was measured oesophagogastric junction distance for pH -MII catheter positioning? If 
it was with pull -through methods describe in the discussion that it is a limitation  
- Describe erosive esophagitis rate and gradin g 
- In background page 3 line 11 add "patients" at the end of the sentence  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not,  please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the m anuscript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of w ritten English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
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