Diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux

Abstract

Around 10-20% of the population suffer from the hallmark symptoms of heartburn, regurgitation, sour burping and retrosternal pain. Based on their characteristic medical history alone, such patients can usually be presumed to have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In around 30-50% of them, the endoscopic examination will reveal the typical erosions and ulcerations in the esophagus. In addition to the clinical symptoms, endoscopy plays a central role in diagnosing GERD. An endoscopy is always indicated whenever these warnings symptoms are present. In patients with persistent reflux problems, endoscopy is indicated to diagnose erosive reflux esophagitis. This procedure should include a routine biopsy taken distal to the Z-line to enable histological detection of the metaplasia associated with Barrett's esophagus. Although the majority of patients exhibit the classical symptoms and respond to acid suppression therapy, endoscopy may not find erosions (non-erosive reflux disease NERD). In these cases, further diagnostic steps must be taken to verify the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease. There are patients, moreover, who exhibit unclear, uncharacteristic reflux symptoms, such as respiratory diseases with bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic cough or ENT problems like posterior laryngitis and globus sensation (a lump in the throat). In these uncertain cases and in patients with NERD, 24-hour pH monitoring can verify and objectify and acid gastroesophageal reflux. An association can then be made between acid reflux and symptomatology. As an alternative, trial therapy with a proton pump inhibitor can help identify patients who have acid-related problems and symptoms. Other functional tests such as radiographic examination, manometry or scintigraphy are less well suited, if at all, for primary diagnostics of gastroesophageal reflux disease.