Medical therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic condition that ranges from mild, intermittent symptoms to more severe cases of esophageal strictures and possibly adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. The etiology of GERD is multifactorial, although transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations are thought to play an important role in addition to poor esophageal clearance and weak lower esophageal sphincter pressures. Lifestyle modifications and over-the-counter medications may be used to treat GERD. After these methods are tried, therapy with histamine receptor type 2 antagonists is the best treatment, although increasingly, proton pump inhibitors are being used. Long-term therapy needs to be maintained in patients with GERD, in contrast to those patients with peptic ulcer disease. The role of lifestyle modifications is described, and the costs of the various regimens are compared.
Arora
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Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. 55905, USA.
Castell
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DO
D000863:Antacids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors
D000863:Antacids; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D006635:Histamine H2 Antagonists; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors