Erosive esophagitis and nonerosive reflux disease (NERD): comparison of epidemiologic, physiologic, and therapeutic characteristics
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Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Simultaneous Laryngopharyngeal and Conventional Esophageal pH Monitoring
Published on: December 14, 2020
1The Neuro-Enteric Clinical Research Group, Section of Gastroenterology, Southern Arizona VA Health Care System and University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, Tucson, AZ 85723-0001, USA. Ronnie.Fass@med.VA.gov
Abstract:
Nonerosive reflux disease (NERD) and erosive esophagitis are the main presentations of gastroesophageal reflux disease. However, NERD is the most common presentation of gastroesophageal reflux disease in community-based patients. Patients with NERD differ in demographic characteristics from patients with erosive esophagitis, primarily in sex distribution, weight/body mass index, and prevalence of hiatal hernia. Physiologically, patients with NERD tend to have normal lower esophageal sphincter resting pressure, minimal esophageal body motility abnormalities, low esophageal acid exposure profile and minimal nighttime esophageal acid exposure. Patients with NERD have a lower symptom response rate to proton pump inhibitor once daily than patients with erosive esophagitis. Additionally, NERD patients demonstrate a longer lag-time for symptom resolution and lack of difference in symptom response rate between half to full dose proton pump inhibitor as compared with patients with erosive esophagitis.
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