| Abstract: | AIM: To assess the management and outcome of nonerosive gastro-esophageal reflux disease (NERD) patients who were identified retrospectively, after a 5-year follow-up.METHODS: We included patients with gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms who had a negative endoscopy result and pathological 24-h esophageal pH-monitoring while off therapy. We interviewed them after an average period of 5 years (range 3.5-7 years) by means of a structured questionnaire to assess presence of GERD symptoms, related therapy, updated endoscopic data and other features. We assessed predictors of esophagitis development by means of univariate and multivariate statistical analysis.RESULTS: 260 patients (137 women) were included. Predominant GERD symptoms were heartburn and regurgitation in 103/260 (40%). 70% received a maintenance treatment, which was proton pump inhibitor (PPI) in 55% of cases. An average number of 1.5 symptomatic relapses per patient/year of followup were observed. A progression to erosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (ERD) was found in 58/193 (30.0%) of patients undergoing repeat endoscopy;72% of these were Los Angeles grade A-B.CONCLUSION: This study shows that progression to ERD occurs in about 5% of NERD cases per year,despite therapy. Only two factors consistently and independently influence progression: smoking and absence of PPI therapy. |
