A hierarchical approach for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) diagnosis by impedance-pH monitoring was proposed by the Lyon Consensus, based on acid exposure time (AET) and supportive impedance metrics.
To establish the clinical value of Lyon Consensus criteria in the work-up of patients with proton pump inhibitory (PPI)-refractory heartburn.
Expert review of off-therapy impedance-pH tracings from unproven GERD patients with PPI-refractory heartburn prospectively evaluated at referral centers. Impedance metrics, namely total reflux episodes, postreflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave index, and mean nocturnal baseline impedance, were assessed. Expert review of on-therapy preoperative impedance-pH tracings from a separate cohort of surgically treated erosive/nonerosive GERD cases.
Off-therapy, normal, inconclusive, and abnormal AET was found in 59%, 17%, and 23% of 317 cases. Supportive evidence of GERD was provided by abnormal impedance metrics in up to 22% and 62% of cases in the normal and inconclusive AET groups, respectively. Adding the cases with inconclusive AET and abnormal impedance metrics to the abnormal AET group, a significant increase in GERD evidence was observed (from 23% to 37% of cases, p < 0.0002). At the on-therapy presurgical evaluation, abnormal/inconclusive AET and supraphysiological values of impedance metrics showed ongoing reflux in 21% and 90% of 96 cases, respectively (p < 0.00001); a relationship between on-therapy ongoing reflux and PPI-refractory heartburn was confirmed by the favorable surgical outcome at 3-year follow-up, 88% of cases being in persistent off-PPI heartburn remission.
Impedance-pH monitoring, off- and on-therapy, is of high clinical value in the work-up of patients with PPI-refractory heartburn.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is an extremely common condition worldwide, with the published prevalence rates varying from 2.5% in China to 51.2% in Greece. Its economic and morbidity burden is vast, and optimizing care for this condition carries huge financial and patient‑related benefits. The disease can be complicated by progression to Barrett esophagus (BE), a precancerous condition that affects approximately 2% of the population and remains undiagnosed in many individuals. The National Institute of Clinical Excellence has produced guidelines on cost‑effective management of gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients in the United Kingdom, and the Benign Barrett\'s and Cancer Taskforce consensus was the largest international review of evidence known on the management of benign BE complications. This paper is a review of these guidelines with updates on new evidence. Areas for future development involve risk‑stratifying patients to surveillance, chemoprevention agents, and genetic biomarkers to help decide who will be at highest risk of malignant progression. Evidence supports the safety of proton pump inhibitors for symptom control in the medium term (ie, 9 years) and reducing the risk of progression of BE, while surgical options are cost‑effective treatments for certain patients. Barrett esophagus surveillance should be directed towards high‑risk groups, while those at lower risk may benefit from chemoprevention strategies.

OBJECTIVE: To review proper use of gastroprotective strategies in family medicine for patients requiring chronic nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) therapy.
METHODS: Evidence of the efficacy and safety of strategies currently in use (prostaglandin analogues, cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, proton pump inhibitors) is derived from randomized controlled trials (level I evidence). The simultaneous use of multiple medications for very high-risk NSAID users is supported only by expert opinion (level III evidence).
RESULTS: Gastroprotective strategies should be reserved for NSAID users at substantially increased risk of gastrointestinal complications; low-risk patients can safely use NSAIDs alone. Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, prostaglandin analogues, and proton pump inhibitors reduce the risk of NSAID-related gastointestinal complications by 40% to 90%. Cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors should be avoided by patients who have or are at risk for cardiovascular disease.
CONCLUSIONS: Chronic NSAID use has been implicated in the development of severe and potentially life-threatening gastointestinal complications, though certain strategies are known to decrease the risk of these NSAID-related gastointestinal complications. Prescribing physicians must know which of their patients should be prescribed medications and which strategies are appropriate for particular patients.