['Reflux-induced injury and oxidative stress result in esophageal inflammation and the potential for progression to intestinal metaplasia and adenocarcinoma. Proton-pump inhibitors represent the standard medical approach, but anti-inflammatories and antioxidants offer novel therapeutic possibilities.', 'Six weeks after an esophagojejunostomy reflux procedure, female Wistar rats (n = 100) were randomized to receive either an antioxidant (vitamin C, 8 mg or 28 mg/day), a cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor (rofecoxib, 1 mg/day), or no therapy. After sacrifice 16 weeks later, esophageal injury was scored using pathologic and image analysis scoring.', 'Esophagitis was present in all 63 animals completing the study and severe in 27 (43%). No animal developed metaplasia or tumor. The extent of inflammation and esophageal ulceration were not significantly different between experimental groups.'] Do neither antioxidants nor COX-2 inhibition protect against esophageal inflammation in an experimental model of severe reflux?