Empirical treatment based on "typical" reflux symptoms is inappropriate in a population with a high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection.
BACKGROUND
Empirical therapy or early endoscopy have been recommended as acceptable management options for GERD. The objective of this study was to determine whether diagnosis and empirical treatment based on reflux symptoms alone are appropriate as initial management for patients with gastroesophageal reflux.


METHODS
Consecutive patients presenting with weekly reflux symptoms were evaluated with a structured questionnaire followed by endoscopy. Patients with dyspepsia as the predominant symptom, "alarm" symptoms (weight loss, dysphagia, or bleeding), history of peptic ulcer or gastric surgery, or recent nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs intake were excluded.


RESULTS
Four hundred sixty patients were studied: 82 (18%) were found to have peptic ulcer disease and 78 (95%) were infected with Helicobacter pylori. Concomitant erosive esophagitis was found in 26 (32%) of these patients with peptic ulcer disease. In the remaining 378 patients, 218 (58%) had erosive esophagitis and 1 had esophageal cancer. Among the 159 patients with no endoscopic lesion, 148 (93%) had relief of symptoms when treated with a proton pump inhibitor. Multivariate analysis showed that male gender (OR: 1.8, p = 0.03), age greater than 60 years (OR: 2.2, p = 0.01) and H pylori infection (OR: 3.6, p = 0.008) were significantly associated with a diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease. Coexisting dyspeptic symptom was not a predictor (p = 0.13) for peptic ulcer disease.


CONCLUSIONS
In populations with a high prevalence of H pylori infection, a significant proportion of patients with GERD have concomitant peptic ulcer disease. Empirical treatment based on "typical" GERD symptoms alone may not be appropriate.
Wu
Justin C Y
JC
Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.
Chan
Francis K L
FK
Ching
Jessica Y L
JY
Leung
Wai-keung
WK
Lee
Yuk-tong
YT
Sung
Joseph J Y
JJ
D000368:Aged; D004415:Dyspepsia / Q000209:etiology; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010437:Peptic Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies