Pharmacologic management and treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease

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Abstract
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common diagnoses in daily practice. Diagnosis can be made on symptom evaluation, on pH-monitoring or on endoscopic findings. In contrast to commonly held opinion there is no strong evidence that lifestyle factors are a dominant factor in the pathophysiology of GERD. The various agents currently used for treatment of GERD include mucoprotective substances, antacids, H(2)-blockers and proton pump inhibitors. This article gives an overview of the pharmacological management of GERD and focuses on the differential therapy of endoscopy-negative GERD, GERD with esophagitis and maintenance therapy.