Do PPI tests enhance the diagnosis of GERD?

A study in December's issue of the Clinical Gastroenterology & Hepatology investigates whether symptom improvement after a PPI test further helps to discriminate between GERD and non-GERD patients.

In the current issue of Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, a follow-up analysis of the Diamond study was reported.

The main objective of the original study was to determine how a symptom-based diagnosis by family physicians or gastroenterologists compared with the reflux disease questionnaire (RDQ).

This first study used as the gold standard the combination of either endoscopic evidence of erosive esophagitis, 24-hour pH monitoring, and/or association of symptoms with reflux episodes.

Dr Sander Veldhuyzen van Zanten from Canada reviewed whether symptom improvement after a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) test further helps to discriminate between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and non-GERD patients.

In this case, esomeprazole 40 mg given once a day for 14 days,

Dr Veldhuyzen van Zanten comments, "The data reported in this issue analyze in detail whether the PPI test enhanced the ability to diagnose GERD confidently."