Functional heartburn: what it is and how to treat it.
Functional heartburn is considered one of the most common functional esophageal disorders. The disorder is more common in young women and is associated with other functional bowel disorders and psychological co-morbidity, primarily somatization. The etiology of functional heartburn remains unknown. Most patients, however, demonstrate esophageal hypersensitivity. Functional heartburn has been identified as the main cause for proton pump inhibitor (PPI) failure in patients with heartburn. Treatment is still a challenge, and patients should be started with PPI treatment. In non-responders, escalation of the PPI dose could be attempted and, if unsuccessful, pain modulators should be prescribed.
Fass
Ronnie
R
Section of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Southern Arizona VA Health Care System and University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, GI Section (1-111G-1), 3601 South. 6th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85723-0001, USA. Ronnie.Fass@va.gov
D000328:Adult; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D050782:Esophageal pH Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D004947:Esophagus / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006356:Heartburn / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors