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Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD)


Other names people use for this condition
  • Barrett ulcer
  • Barrett esophagus
  • Columnar-like esophagus
  • Chronic peptic ulcer and esophagitis syndrome
  • Esophagitis-peptic ulcer
Home > Genetic & Rare Diseases Information Center (GARD) > Barrett syndrome

* This condition is not a rare disease. It is a condition about which the GARD Information Center has received a question.

Barrett syndrome *
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Barrett syndrome, also known as Barrett esophagus, is a disorder in which the lining of the esophagus (the tube that carries food from the throat to the stomach) is replaced by tissue that is similar to the lining of the intestine. This process is called intestinal metaplasia.[2] The exact cause of Barrett syndrome is not known, but gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a risk factor for the condition.[2] While Barrett syndrome itself does not cause symptoms, the acid reflux associated with GERD often leads to symptoms of heartburn.[1]  Less than 1% of people with Barrett syndrome develop a rare type of cancer called esophageal adenocarcinoma.[2] Treatment of GERD should improve symptoms, and may keep Barrett syndrome from getting worse.[1] Endoscopic or surgical treatments can be used to treat Barrett syndrome with severe dysplasia or cancer.[2]




References
  1. Longstreth GF. Barrett's esophagus. MedlinePlus. 2009 Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001143.htm. Accessed March 4, 2010.
  2. Barrett's Esophagus. National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC). 2008 Available at: http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/barretts/. Accessed March 4, 2010.
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Questions & Answers (Found 1 Question)
A list of questions from the public on rare and/or genetic diseases that have been answered by the Genetic and Rare Disease Information Center. Click on each question to find the answer.
For more information about Barrett syndrome click on the boxes below:
More Detailed Information Organizations Medical Products Services Clinical Trials & Research
 
More Detailed Information (Found 8 resources)
Links where you can find more general information, comprehensive resources, selected full text journal articles, and news updates. Disclaimer

  • General

    • Medscape Reference has 2 articles on this topic from the perspective of Gastroenterology and Radiology. You may need to register to view the information online, but registration is free.
    • MayoClinic.com provides information about Barrett syndrome.
    • MedlinePlus, a Web site designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, provides more information about this topic. Click on the link to view this information.
    • The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC), part of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), offers information on this condition. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
    • The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is a federation of more than 130 nonprofit voluntary health organizations serving people with rare disorders. Click on the link to view information on this topic.
    • The Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database contains genetics resources that discuss Barrett syndrome. Click on the link to go to OMIM and review these resources.
    • Orphanet is a database dedicated to information on rare diseases and orphan drugs.  Access to this database is free of charge.  Click on the link to read information on this topic.
    • PubMed is a searchable database of medical literature and lists journal articles that discuss Barrett syndrome. Click on the link to view a sample search on this topic.
 Organizations Providing General Support | Social Networking Websites
Organizations (Found 6 resources)
Groups providing a wide range of services, supportive resources, and information. Disclaimer



    • The Digestive Disease National Coalition
      507 Capitol Court, NE
      Suite 200
      Washington, DC 20002
      Phone: 202-544-7497
      Fax: (202) 546-7105
      Email: romano@hmcw.org
      Website: http://www.ddnc.org/
  • Organizations Providing General Support

  • Social Networking Websites

    • DNAandU.org is a Web site and blog that collects firsthand stories from people facing issues, making tough decisions, and using genomic (DNA) information in their own healthcare.  Click on the link to learn from their experiences and/or submit your own story.

    • Madisons Foundation
      P.O. Box 241956
      Los Angeles, CA 90024
      Telephone: 310-264-0826
      Fax: 310-264-4766
      E-mail: getinfo@madisonsfoundation.org  
      Web site: http://www.madisonsfoundation.org/  
    • RareShare is an online social hub dedicated to patients, families and healthcare professionals affected by rare medical disorders.
 
Medical Products (Found 1 resource)
Disclaimer
 
Services (Found 2 resources)
Links to Web sites that offer services, such as tools to locate specialists, specialty clinics, genetic services, and genetic testing laboratories. Disclaimer

    • Many individuals want to know about healthcare professionals or researchers who have knowledge of their conditions. When a condition is rare, it can be difficult to find someone who has seen many cases. Although there is no list of experts in rare diseases, GARD's How to Find an Expert fact sheet provides several ways to identify healthcare professionals who have experience with a particular condition. Click on the link to access this resource and learn more.

  • Parent Resources

    • The Parent Technical Assistance Center Network provides a list of the Parent Training and Information Centers in each state. These centers are funded by the United States Department of Education to provide early intervention and special education information and training to parents of children with disabilities from birth to age 26. Click on the link to find the Parent Center in your state.
 
Clinical Trials & Research (Found 5 resources)
Resources where you may find research studies and clinical trials. Disclaimer

    • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are studying or have studied Barrett syndrome. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.
    • The Centers for Mendelian Genomics program is working to discover the causes of rare genetic disorders. For more information about applying to the research study, please visit their website.
    • GeneTests lists laboratories offering research genetic testing for this condition. Research genetic tests may be used to find disease-causing genes, learn how genes work, or aid in the understanding of a genetic disorder. In many cases test results are not shared with the patient or physician. Talk to your health care provider or a genetic professional to learn more about research testing for this condition.
    • NIH Clinical Trials and You is a website developed by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to help people learn more about clinical trials, why they matter, and how to participate.
  • Patient Registry

    • ResearchMatch is a free national research registry designed to bring together patients, healthy volunteers and researchers. Anyone from the United States can register with ResearchMatch, and a parent, legal guardian, or caretaker may register on behalf of a volunteer. Researchers from participating institutions use the ResearchMatch database to search for patients or healthy volunteers who meet the study criteria. Many studies are looking for healthy people of all ages, while some are looking for people with specific illnesses. ResearchMatch was developed by major academic institutions across the country and is funded by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.

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