Disease ID | Source | Name | Description |
614266 | OMIM | Barrett esophagus (BE) | A condition characterized by a metaplastic change in which normal esophageal squamous epithelium is replaced by a columnar and intestinal-type epithelium. Patients with Barrett esophagus have an increased risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma. The main cause of Barrett esophagus is gastroesophageal reflux. The retrograde movement of acid and bile salts from the stomach into the esophagus causes prolonged injury to the esophageal epithelium and induces chronic esophagitis, which in turn is believed to trigger the pathologic changes. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. The pathologic mechanisms leading to Barrett esophagus involve GPX7 dysfunction that results in higher levels of hydrogen peroxide and ROS-induced oxidative stress and DNA damage in esophageal cells. |