Kim Kardashian revealed her diagnosis of esophagitis in the trailer for the eighth season of "The Kardashians." In one of the clips, she says, "I have esophagitis." In another clip, her mother, Kris Jenner, expresses her concern, saying that this diagnosis "brings her to tears."
Information About Esophagitis
According to available information, esophagitis refers to the inflammation of the esophageal lining, the muscular tube that carries food and drink from the mouth to the stomach. In the trailer, Kardashian is seen lying in a hospital bed connected to machines. During this time, someone off-camera asks if this condition is the same one that her father, Robert Kardashian, had. Robert Kardashian passed away in 2003 due to esophageal cancer.
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Types of Esophagitis and Its Complications
Dr. Stuart Spechler, a gastroenterologist at Baylor University Medical Center, explains that there are various types of esophagitis, and Kardashian has not specified a particular type. He states, "The most common type is reflux esophagitis, which is a complication of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)." In these patients, the mechanisms that usually prevent stomach acid from returning to the esophagus are disrupted, and the refluxed acid irritates and damages the esophagus.
Common symptoms in this case include heartburn and food regurgitation. Some patients with reflux esophagitis may develop Barrett's esophagus, where repeated exposure to acid damages the normal lining of the esophagus and replaces it with cells similar to those in the intestine and stomach. This condition is considered a risk factor for a type of esophageal cancer called esophageal adenocarcinoma.
However, Dr. Spechler emphasizes that esophagitis is only a small risk factor for esophageal cancer, and women are less likely than men to develop Barrett's disease and esophageal cancer. He adds, "Most patients with GERD and reflux esophagitis do not develop Barrett's, and most patients with Barrett's do not develop cancer."
Diagnosis of both conditions is usually made using endoscopy, which allows doctors to examine the esophagus and take biopsy samples to check for abnormalities. Patients with Barrett's are typically subjected to regular endoscopies to identify early changes that indicate a higher risk for cancer.
The Kardashian family helped open the Robert G. Kardashian Esophageal Health Center at UCLA in 2019, which was established as "a center for comprehensive, patient-centered treatment, research, and education related to esophageal disorders." Kardashian stated at the time, "Our family is proud to partner with UCLA Health to establish the Robert G. Kardashian Esophageal Health Center in memory of our father."
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