Current trends in the diagnosis and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease

Abstract

Gastroesophageal reflux disease and its typical symptoms heartburn and regurgitation is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders. Besides esophageal symptoms awareness of extraesophageal symptoms is increasing. The diagnosis is usually based on history of symptoms and on endoscopically visible esophageal injury in some pa-tients. Normal endoscopic finding and refractory symptoms on standard treatment should evoke further examina-tion. Proton pump inhibitors have been the mainstay of medical therapy. Long term maintenance treatment may raise awareness of side effects and therapeutic alternatives. This review is focused of current available diagnostic and therapeutic strategies for gastroesophageal reflux disease.