Pathophysiology of gastroesophageal reflux disease - UpToDate
Some degree of gastroesophageal reflux is physiologic. Physiologic reflux episodes typically occur postprandially, are short-lived, asymptomatic, and rarely occur during sleep. Pathologic reflux is associated with symptoms or mucosal injury (еѕоphаgitis) and often occurs nocturnally. In general, the term gastroesophageal reflux disease (GЕRD) is applied to patients with symptoms suggestive of reflux or complications thereof, but not necessarily with esophageal inflammation. Reflux еѕоphаgitiѕ describes a subset of patients with GΕRD who have endoscopic evidence of esophageal erosions, described in the Los Angeles classification as mucosal breaks [1], usually confined to the area of the gastroesophageal junction. The pathophysiology of GERD will be reviewed here. The clinical manifestations and diagnosis of this disorder are discussed separately. (See "Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux in adults".) MECHANISMS OF GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE The developm
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