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Assessment of mitochondrial DNA lesions in saliva samples as a marker of a high risk of severe gastroesophageal reflux disease

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background: gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common chronic, often recurrent disease that is a risk factor for esophageal cancer. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EPGDS) (i. e., an invasive procedure with a number of contraindications) is the "gold standard" of GERD diagnosis. Therefore, it is important to find several methods of available, safe, non-invasive and efficient assessment of GERD severity. In this regard, quantification of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) lesions of epithelial cells of the upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) seems to be a promising technique since the indicator may be associated with chronic non-infectious disorders (including gastrointestinal diseases). Aim: to identify incidence of mtDNA lesions in saliva samples in GERD patients with esophagitis of varying severity and in healthy individuals, and to evaluate correlation of number of mtDNA lesions with GERD severity. Materials and Methods: 106 males aged 35.5±3.4 years were examined. 27 of them were somatically healthy, and 79 were diagnosed with GERD (according to the Los Angeles classification: 26 patients with GERD-A, 25 patients with GERD-B, 28 patients with GERD-C) and were in remission at the time of the study. General blood test (GBT) results and number of mtDNA lesions were compared between the groups. Number of mtDNA lesions was evaluated by Real-time PCR with further calculations by 2.0.DNADamageCalculator software. Results: GERD patients in remission demonstrated specified GBT values similar to those in healthy individuals. In the GERD-C group, number of mtDNA lesions (5.19/10 kb) exceeded the same indicator in the comparison and the control group. As a GERD-C predictor, number of mtDNA lesions is characterized by good (AUC>0.7) diagnostic value, as well as it has appropriate sensitivity (64.00–72.00%) and specificity (80.77–100.00%). Conclusion: patients with mtDNA lesions >5.12/10 kb should be included in a group at risk of severe GERD. As GBT parameters recover quickly when patient's condition improves, they are not meaningful to assess patient's condition beyond the acute disease till a clinically pronounced relapse. As mtDNA abnormalities are eliminated slowly, they may be detected even quite a long time after the exacerbation. Number of mtDNA lesions demonstrates a relationship with severity of GERD. Therefore, quantitative analysis of mtDNA lesions in saliva samples may be a non-invasive available method to identify individuals at high risk for severe GERD. KEYWORDS: gastroesophageal reflux disease, mitochondrial DNA lesions, general blood test, predictor, screening, genetics. FOR CITATION: Chizhkov P.A., Kalaeva E.A., Kalaev V.N., Larina A.V., Lagutina S.N. Assessment of mitochondrial DNA lesions in saliva samples as a marker of a high risk of severe gastroesophageal reflux disease. Russian Medical Inquiry. 2026;10(5):256–262 (in Russ.). DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2026-10-5-1

Source: Russian Medical Inquiry

DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2026-10-5-1

Authors: P.A. Chizhkov, E.A. Kalaeva, V.N. Kalaev, A.V. Larina, S.N. Lagutina

Institutions: Voronezh State Medical Academy named after N.N. Burdenko, Voronezh State University

Language: English

Topic: Gastroesophageal reflux and treatments

Subfield: Gastroenterology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W7168659526

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