Ronnie Fass

The clinical and economic value of a short course of omeprazole in patients with noncardiac chest pain

BACKGROUND & AIMS Evaluation of new patients with noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) may require a variety of costly tests. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the omeprazole test (OT) in diagnosing gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) in patients with NCCP and estimate the potential cost savings of this strategy compared with conventional diagnostic evaluations. METHODS Thirty-nine patients referred by cardiologists were enrolled. Baseline symptoms were recorded, and the patients were randomized to either placebo or omeprazole (40 mg AM and 20 mg PM) groups for 7 days. Patients were crossed over to the other arm after a washout period and repeat baseline symptom assessment. All patients underwent 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring and upper endoscopy before randomization. RESULTS Thirty-seven patients (94.9%) completed the study. Twenty-three (62.2%) were classified as GERD positive and 14 as GERD negative. Eighteen (78%) GERD-positive patients and 2 (14%) GERD-negative patients had a positive OT (P < 0.01), yielding a sensitivity of 78.3% (95% confidence interval, 61.4-95.1) and specificity of 85.7% (95% confidence interval, 67.4-100). Economic analysis showed that the OT saves

Non‐erosive reflux disease (NERD) — acid reflux and symptom patterns

573 per average patient evaluated and results in a 59% reduction in the number of diagnostic procedures. CONCLUSIONS The OT is sensitive and specific for diagnosing GERD in patients with NCCP. This strategy results in significant cost savings and decreased use of diagnostic tests.

Effectiveness of Proton Pump Inhibitors in Nonerosive Reflux Disease

Background: Recent reports suggest that patients with non‐erosive reflux disease (NERD) treated with anti‐reflux medications show lower symptom improvement rates than patients with erosive oesophagitis treated with the same medications.

Systematic review: proton‐pump inhibitor failure in gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease – where next?

BACKGROUND & AIMS Little information is available about the efficacy of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in patients with nonerosive reflux disease (NERD). We aimed to synthesize available data and determine the effectiveness of PPIs on symptom resolution in patients with NERD. METHODS A systematic review of the literature identified studies reporting the effects of PPIs in patients with NERD. Heartburn resolution data were pooled across studies. The effectiveness of PPI therapy in inducing complete heartburn resolution was compared in patients with NERD vs. erosive esophagitis (EE). RESULTS Seven trials evaluating heartburn resolution in NERD were identified. Higher proportions of patients reported achieving sufficient heartburn resolution compared with complete heartburn resolution. The effect of PPIs on sufficient heartburn resolution was observed sooner than was complete heartburn resolution. Therapeutic gain of PPI therapy over placebo ranged from 30% to 35% for sufficient heartburn control and from 25% to 30% for complete heartburn control. Pooled response rates at 4 weeks were significantly higher for patients with EE compared with NERD (56% vs. 37%, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS PPIs provide a more modest therapeutic gain in patients with NERD as compared with those with EE. A trend in increased therapeutic gain for NERD patients was shown throughout the 4 weeks, suggesting that 4 weeks of follow-up evaluation may be insufficient to show full therapeutic gain in this patient population.

ACG practice guidelines: Esophageal reflux testing

Proton‐pump inhibitor failure has become a common clinical dilemma in gastrointestinal clinics and has been increasingly encountered at the primary care level as well. Underlying mechanisms are diverse and may overlap. Most patients who have proton‐pump inhibitor failure are likely to originate from the non‐erosive reflux disease phenotype. Currently, available diagnostic modalities provide limited clues to the exact underlying cause. Treatment relies primarily on escalating dosing of proton‐pump inhibitors. However, new insights into the pathophysiology of proton‐pump inhibitor failure are likely to provide alternative therapeutic options.

Differential effect of long-term esophageal acid exposure on mechanosensitivity and chemosensitivity in humans☆☆☆

Investigations and technical advances have enhanced our understanding and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease. The recognition of the prevalence and importance of patients with endoscopy-negative reflux disease as well as those refractory to proton pump inhibitor therapy have led to an increasing need for objective tests of esophageal reflux. Guidelines for esophageal reflux testing are developed under the auspices of the American College of Gastroenterology and its Practice Parameters Committee and approved by the Board of Trustees. Issues regarding the utilization of conventional, catheter-based pH monitoring are discussed. Improvements in the interpretation of esophageal pH recordings through the use of symptom-reflux association analyses as well as limitations gleaned from recent studies are reviewed. The clinical utility of pH recordings in the proximal esophagus and stomach is examined. Newly introduced techniques of duodenogastroesophageal reflux, wireless pH capsule monitoring and esophageal impedance testing are assessed and put into the context of traditional methodology. Finally, recommendations on the clinical applications of esophageal reflux testing are presented.

Nonerosive reflux disease— current concepts and dilemmas

BACKGROUND & AIMS Chronic tissue injury in the esophagus associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease may result in sensitization of afferent pathways mediating mechanosensitivity and chemosensitivity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity to intraluminal acid and to distention of the esophagus in patients with mild-to-moderate gastroesophageal reflux disease. METHODS Perceptual responses to intraluminal acid perfusion and to esophageal distention and pressure volume relationships were evaluated in 10 healthy volunteers and in 11 patients. Mechanosensitivity was evaluated with a barostat using unbiased distention protocols and verbal descriptor ratings of sensations. Chemosensitivity to acid was determined at baseline and after a 1-month treatment of acid suppression. RESULTS Patients showed enhanced perception of acid perfusion but not of esophageal distension. Chemosensitivity but not mechanosensitivity was correlated with reflux symptoms and with the degree of endoscopically shown tissue injury at baseline. Tissue injury was not associated with altered compliance. CONCLUSIONS Mild-to-moderate chronic tissue injury in gastroesophageal reflux disease differentially affects mechanosensitive and chemosensitive afferent pathways. Chronic acid reflux by itself is not likely to play a role in reported esophageal hypersensitivity to distention in patients with noncardiac chest pain.

Clinical trial: lubiprostone in patients with constipation-associated irritable bowel syndrome – results of two randomized, placebo-controlled studies

Nonerosive reflux disease is defined as the presence of typical symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease caused by intraesophageal acid in the absence of visible esophageal mucosal injury at endoscopy. Recent studies demonstrate that it is a chronic disease with a significant impact on quality of life, and it is very common in primary care settings. Treatment with acid inhibitory agents is effective, and proton pump inhibitors are the most effective form of therapy.

Management of heartburn not responding to proton pump inhibitors

Background  Effective treatments for irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS‐C) are lacking.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease-should we adopt a new conceptual framework?

Patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) who are not responding to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) given once daily are very common. Various underlying mechanisms have been shown to contribute to the failure of PPI treatment. These include weakly acidic reflux, duodenogastro-oesophageal reflux, residual acid reflux and functional heartburn, as well as others. Diagnostic evaluation of patients with GORD who have failed PPI treatment may include an upper endoscopy, pH testing and oesophageal impedance with pH monitoring. Commonly, doubling the PPI dose or switching to another PPI will be pursued by the treating physician. Failure of such a therapeutic strategy may result in the addition of a transient lower oesophageal sphincter reducer or pain modulator. Anti-reflux surgery may be suitable for a subset of carefully studied patients.