The frontiers of reflux disease.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease has frequently been implicated in a wide variety of complications beyond the esophagus. These so-called "extraesophageal" disorders range from diseases of the respiratory tract, such as asthma and bronchitis, to more remote sites and conditions such as otitis and dental erosion. Many articles proposing a link between reflux disease and a multitude of extraesophageal complications have been published, but indisputable evidence that these conditions are caused by reflux disease is rare. Much of the support for a link between reflux disease and a number of extraesophageal complications is based on the observation that reflux disease frequently coexists with other disorders. A causal link is difficult to prove, however, and this review aims to critically evaluate the available evidence, looking, where possible, at longitudinal studies, expert diagnoses, and response to acid-suppressive therapy as a means of determining the true relationship between GERD and its putative extraesophageal complications.
Vakil
Nimish
N
University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, USA. nvakil@wisc.edu
D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007827:Laryngitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology