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Erosive Esophagitis

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Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders

Abstract

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the main etiologic factor of erosive esophagitis (“reflux esophagitis”). The prevalence of esophagitis is less than 10% in the general population, and approximately 30% in patients with gastroesophageal reflux symptoms. Symptoms of erosive esophagitis are not different from symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux, i.e., mainly heartburn, acid regurgitation, and chest pain. Dysphagia may be present whatever the severity of endoscopic lesions, and even in the absence of esophageal stricture. Proton pump inhibitors are the mainstay of medical therapy of reflux esophagitis, providing high healing rates (90%) and symptom relief (70–80%). On the long term, tolerability and safety of proton pump inhibitors are excellent. Refractory esophagitis may be related to poor adherence to therapy and/or insufficient acid secretion inhibition and represents a potential indication for anti-reflux surgery (laparoscopic fundoplication) which provides excellent functional results, but may have side effects. Erosive esophagitis is a risk factor for Barrett’s esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma, thus justifying screening strategy in patients with gastroesophageal reflux and surveillance program if Barrett’s esophagus is present.

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Abbreviations

GERD:

Gastroesophageal reflux disease

PPIs:

Proton pump inhibitors

H2RAs:

H2-receptor antagonists

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Acknowledgement

Conflict of interest: Consultant for Medtronic, Reckitt-Benckiser.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gastroenterology Department, Bordeaux University Hospital, Bordeaux, France

    Frank Zerbib M.D., Ph.D.

  2. Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France

    Frank Zerbib M.D., Ph.D.

  3. INSERM CIC 1401, Bordeaux, France

    Frank Zerbib M.D., Ph.D.

  4. Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, Haut Lévêque Hospital, CHU de Bordeaux, Avenue Magellan, 33600, Pessac, France

    Frank Zerbib M.D., Ph.D.

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  1. Frank Zerbib M.D., Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Frank Zerbib M.D., Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Gastroenterology, Sheba medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Eytan Bardan

  2. Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

    Reza Shaker

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Zerbib, F. (2018). Erosive Esophagitis. In: Bardan, E., Shaker, R. (eds) Gastrointestinal Motility Disorders . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59352-4_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59352-4_8

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