Gastroesophageal reflux disease in pregnancy

Abstract

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common gastrointestinal (GI) disorders and, despite the fact that it is a benign condition, it may seriously affect the quality of life of women during pregnancy. The most commonly symptoms seen of GERD are heartburn and reguritation and the cause is probably an association between the decreased pressure in lower esophageal sphincter (LES), influenced by the high concentrations of estrogen and progesterone, and the increased intra-abdominal pressure. Contrary to non-pregnant patients, the management of GERD during pregnancy is based on a step-up algorithm, beginning with lifestyle modifications and dietary changes. If symptoms persist, or in case of complicated reflux disease, antacids or sucralfate are considered the first-line therapy, followed by the histamine-2-receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors. The purpose of this article is to make a review of the medical literature concerning the symptoms, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of GERD in pregnancy. For this purpose, a scientific research in databases such as Medline, PubMed, Elsevier, The Lancet was conducted