Abstract

REMES-TROCHE, José María. Diagnostic tests in gastroesophageal reflux disease. Gen [online]. 2013, vol.67, n.4, pp.243-251. ISSN 0016-3503.

Currently gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is not a simple disease and must be considered as a heterogeneous and multi - symptomatic disease, so that there is no a gold standard test. The decision of which test to use, when to use it and what their diagnosis gain depends on several factors. For the structural assessment of esophagus, video endoscopy is considered as an ideal test because it allows the absence or presence of erosions and complications such as Barrett 's esophagus. Determination of esophageal pH impedance testing is useful in establishing the characteristics of intraluminal esophageal contents (acid, non-acid , mixed) and its association with symptoms. In the presence of symptoms such as non-cardiac chest pain and dysphagia, esophageal high resolution manometry is the most useful test to assess the presence of esophageal motor disorders. Notwithstanding that these diagnostic tests are useful, their availability may be limited, so simple tests, such as using symptom questionnaire or inhibitor therapeutic trial of proton pump are considered as initial tests for suspected GERD.

Keywords : gastroesophageal reflux disease; endoscopy; pH monitoring; impedance; inhibiting proton pump.

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