Current medical management of gastroesophageal reflux disease

Abstract

Gastroesophageal reflux symptoms are common. Not everyone who has heartburn has reflux, as some people have functional heartburn in addition to many other symptoms. Alternatively, not everybody who has reflux has heartburn, and many symptoms are identified in which reflux may be playing a role. In most cases, the initial management strategy is empiric medical therapy. Often, this brings symptom relief, but when it does not, alternative diagnoses need to be considered. High-dose treatment trials and ambulatory pH monitoring have become more important than endoscopy in the diagnosis of reflux. Patients who have reflux typically require a chronic disease approach. This can be with medical therapy, surgery, or endoscopic approaches. GERD is associated with decreased quality of life; however, given the many helpful treatment options, no one should suffer from the symptoms of GERD.