PHARMACY UPDATE
Update on drugs for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
Correspondence to:
For correspondence:
MrS Keady
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, 235 Euston Road, London NW1 2BU, UK; simon.keady@uclh.nhs.uk
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
Gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) is a common and usually self-limiting condition involving the regurgitation of gastric contents into the oesophagus. It causes symptoms (table 1
) such as heartburn, oesophagitis, acute life-threatening events and respiratory disease,1–3 at which point it is defined as gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).
|
View this table: Table 1 Symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) |
The prevalence of GOR and GORD in infants is between 20–40%, higher than that in children and adults. This high number is associated with the transient immaturity of the oesophagus and the stomach. Features include a short abdominal oesophagus (<1 cm), increased oesophageal clearance, increased number of transient lower oesophageal sphincter relaxations coupled with delayed gastric emptying.4–6
Methods of detection include oesophageal pH monitoring, especially with respiratory manifestations,1,3,7–9 or multiple intraluminal impedance.10–12 The latter allows detection of continued postprandial reflux despite a neutralisation of gastric contents by milk formula.
However, there continues to be a wide variation in
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Infant nutrition (including breastfeeding)
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