Does Symptom Response Diagnose Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease?
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a backflow (reflux) of stomach contents into the esophagus. It happens when the valve between the esophagus and stomach opens or relaxes. The reflux of stomach contents causes symptoms such as heartburn, indigestion, and sour- or bitter-tasting fluids in the throat or mouth. Diagnosing GERD can be difficult because symptoms may be similar to those seen in other digestive disorders. Standard diagnostic tests include measuring the amount of stomach acid in the esophagus over a 24-hour period (pH monitoring), visually examining the esophagus by using an instrument passed through the mouth (endoscopy), or completing a checklist for GERD symptoms. Doctors often prescribe medicines called proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) to reduce stomach acid and symptoms of GERD. They sometimes assume that a patient has GERD if the PPIs eliminate symptoms. Is this assumption correct?
