Endoscopy-negative reflux disease.
The majority of patients with symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux have no endoscopic evidence of oesophagitis. There has been remarkably little systematic gathering of information about this group of patients. It is commonly believed that they have a mild form of reflux disease, with low levels of dysfunction that usually respond to simple therapeutic measures. Emerging data from recent studies indicate that this is not the case. Endoscopy-negative patients have symptom severities comparable to those with erosive disease, and which significantly impair their quality of life. The limited data available on the pathophysiology of endoscopy-negative reflux disease suggest that, in the majority of patients, it is as much a disease of excessive gastro-oesophageal reflux as it is in patients with oesophageal lesions. The same principles that apply to successful treatment in patients with oesophagitis also hold true for patients with endoscopy-negative disease.
Carlsson
R
R
Clinical Science, AstraZeneca R&D, Mölndal, S-431 83, Sweden.
Holloway
R H
RH
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009853:Omeprazole / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D009853:Omeprazole