Dysphagia associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease is improved by proton pump inhibitor

This study aimed to determine whether dysphagia associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease was effectively treated with rabeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor. Sixty-eight outpatients with gastroesophageal reflux-associated dysphagia were enrolled in this study. Endoscopic esophagitis was confirmed in 52 of 68 subjects. The proton pump inhibitor rabeprazole was administered at 20 mg daily for 8 weeks. Rabeprazole was administered for a further 6 months to 16 subjects whose dysphagia was improved (10 mg/day) and 5 of these underwent 24-hr esophageal pH monitoring before and after treatment. Dysphagia was completely resolved in 40 of 68 subjects, which were categorized in Group I. Dysphagia improved partially in 20 subjects and was unchanged in 8 subjects. These 28 subjects were categorized into Group II. Comparison was made between Group I and Group II and multivariate analysis demonstrated that the only factor that correlated with the effect of rabeprazole on dysphagia was "improvement in heartburn symptoms." There were no relapses of symptoms during the 6-month follow-up period, and pH monitoring showed sustained suppression of acid secretion. The results indicate that rabeprazole is effective in the treatment of dysphagia associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease. We were, however, unable to elicit any factors that could predict the therapeutic effect of rabeprazole before commencing treatment.