Abstract
The term gastroesophageal disease (GERD) is used for patients with typical or/and atypical symptoms with physical complications which result from the reflux of stomach and duodenal contents, mainly gastric acid, into the esophagus. It is easy to diagnose obvious esophagitis by endoscopy. On the other hand, skillful medical interviews and other examinations, such as pH monitoring and esophageal manometry are required to diagnose patients with endoscopic negative GERD and atypical symptoms, such as noncardiac chest pain and chronic cough. PPI test is a clinically useful tool in the therapeutic diagnosis for atypical GERD.
The goal of medications for GERD is an improvement in the QOL from primary therapy and no recurrence with maintenance therapy. The use of PPI is superior to H2RA both for primary and maintenance therapies. PPI therapy is also more cost effective than H2RA therapy.
