[Gastroesophageal reflux (II). Major medical therapeutics: efficacy and risks]

REFERENCE DATA FOR THE THERAPEUTIC MANAGEMENT OF GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX (GOR): The natural history of the disease; the short- and long-term efficiency of the various therapies and their potential risks; patient-related factors (age, associated disorders, personal preference, duration and severity of his reflux disease). First line therapy will be medical in all cases. POTENTIAL CANDIDATES FOR SURGERY: Only patients with proven GOR, with or without esophagitis but who have required proton-pump inhibitors (PPI) are potential candidates for surgery; if their esophagitis is not healed after a 8-week PPI regimen, especially, if they remain symptomatic; if they relapse shortly after treatment withdrawal and require either frequent intermittent courses or long-term continuous treatment with PPI; moreover if they relapse while continuously taking PPI at usual dosage. LONG-TERM TREATMENT WITH PPI: It looks safe. However there still is some concern about the complete safety of extremely prolonged treatments started in young patients.