This document discusses atypical presentations of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It defines GERD and notes that while heartburn is the classic symptom, GERD can present with other symptoms or complications in patients who lack typical symptoms. It describes how GERD can manifest as cough, asthma, laryngitis, dental erosion or non-cardiac chest pain and outlines the diagnostic tests and treatment approaches for both typical and atypical GERD presentations.

1. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease;
Atypical Presentations..!?
By
Prof. El-Sayed Tharwa, M.D.
Professor of Internal Medicine
Hepatology and Gastroenterology Department
NLI – Menoufia University
11th December 2020

2. Definition
◼ Symptoms or mucosal damage produced by the
abnormal reflux of gastric contents into the
esophagus.
◼ Often chronic and relapsing.
◼ May see complications of GERD in patients who
lack typical symptoms.
The classic symptom is frequent and persistent
heartburn.
44 % of Americans experience heartburn at
least once per month.
7 % have daily symptoms.

3. 
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4. Physiologic GERD
 Postprandial
 Short lived
 Asymptomatic
 No nocturnal sx
Pathologic GERD
 Symptoms
 Mucosal injury
 Nocturnal sx

5. 

GERD occurs in all ages but, most common in those older
than 40 years of age.
About 10-20% of people in Western countries suffer from
GERD symptoms on a weekly basis.



About 7% have symptoms daily.
Except for NERD and pregnancy , no much
difference in incidence between men and women.
But for Barrett’s esophagus, prevalence is more in
males particularly white adult males.

6. Normal Function
Esophagus
◼ Transports food from mouth to stomach through
peristaltic contractions.
Lower esophageal sphincter (LES)
◼ Relaxes, on swallowing, to allow food to enter
stomach and then contracts to prevent reflux.
Normal to have some amount of reflux multiple
times each day (transient relaxation of LES – not
associated with swallowing).

7. http://www.gerd.com/intro/noframe/grossovw.htm

8. Pathogenesis
3 lines of defense must be impaired for
GERD to develop
◼ LES barrier impairment
Relaxation of LES
Low resting LES pressure
Increased gastric pressure
◼ Decreased clearance of refluxed materials
from esophagus
◼ Decreased esophageal mucosal resistance

9. Contributing Factors
Decrease LES
pressure
◼ Chocolate
◼ Alcohol
◼ Fatty meals
◼ Coffee, cola, tea
◼ Garlic
◼ Onions
◼ Smoking
Directly irritate the gastric
mucosa
◼ Tomato-based products
◼ Coffee
◼ Spicy foods
◼ Citrus juices
◼ Meds: NSAIDS, aspirin, iron,
KCl, alendronate
Stimulate acid secretions
◼ Soda
◼ Beer
◼ Smoking

10. Contributing Factors
Drugs that decrease LES pressure
◼ Alpha-adrenergic agonists
◼ Anti-cholinergic agents (e.g. TCA’s, antihistamines)
◼ Beta-adrenergic agonists
◼ Calcium channel antagonists (nifedipine most reduction)
◼ Diazepam
◼ Dopamine
◼ Meperidine
◼ Nitrates/Other vasodilators
◼ Estrogens/progesterones (including oral contraceptives)
◼ Prostaglandins
◼ Theophylline

11. Lines of Defense
Clearance of refluxed materials from
esophagus
◼ Primary peristalsis from swallowing – increases
salivary flow
◼ Secondary peristalsis from esophageal distension
◼ Gravitational effects
Esophageal mucosal resistance
◼ Mucus production in esophagus
◼ Bicarbonate movement from blood to mucosa

12. Amount of esophageal damage seen dependent on:
◼ Composition of refluxed material
Which is worse: acid or alkaline refluxed material?
◼ Volume of refluxed material
◼ Length of contact time
◼ Natural sensitivity of esophageal mucosa
◼ Rate of gastric emptying

13. 6) COMPOSITION OF REFLUXATE
 If the pH of the refluxate is less than 2,
nietorp ot yradnoces poleved yam sitigahpose
noitarutaned
 Also pepsinogen activated to pepsin at this pH may
cause esophagitis.

14. 
Erosive esophagitis
 Responsible for 40-60% of GERD symptoms
 Severity of symptoms often fail to match severity
of erosive esophagitis

15.  Esophageal stricture
 Result of healing of
erosive esophagitis
 May need dilation
 Common in the distal
esophagus and are
generally 1 to 2 cm in
length.

16.  Barrett’s Esophagus
 Columnar metaplasia of the esophagus,i.e
replacement of the squamous epithelial lining of
the esophagus by specialized columnar- type
epithelium
 Associated with the development of
adenocarcinoma
 Have a greater chance) 30%) of developing
esophageal stricture

17.  Barrett’s Esophagus
 Acid damages lining of
esophagus and causes
chronic esophagitis
 Damaged area heals in a
metaplastic process and
abnormal columnar cells
replace squamous cells
 This specialized intestinal
metaplasia can progress to
dysplasia and
adenocarcinoma

18. Typical Symptoms
Common symptoms:
most common when pH<4
◼ Heartburn
◼ Belching and regurgitation
◼ Hypersalivation
May be episodic or nocturnal
May be aggravated by meals and reclining
position

19. Atypical Symptoms
Non-allergic asthma
Chronic cough
Hoarseness
Pharyngitis
Chest pain (mimics angina)
May be only symptoms – “PPI test”

20. Non cardiac chest pain NCCP
▪When patients complain of recurring chest pain that varies in
intensity , a careful history and a simple testing help us to sort out
if cardiac etiology is to blame.
▪Because coronary artery disease is such a critical diagnosis, it
should be excluded in all patients complaining of chest pain. This
can be done by a cardiologist.
▪It is also important to note that women may report atypical chest
pain symptoms that are due to cardiac disease more often than
men and this cause has to be excluded before assuming the
symptoms are from an atypical presentation of GERD.

21. Alarming Signs & Symptoms
• Dysphagia
• Early satiety
• GI bleeding
• Odynophagia
• Vomiting
• Weight loss
• Iron deficiency anemia

22. Symptom Predominance (%)
Heartburn 80
Regurgitation 54
Abdominal Pain 29
Cough 27
Dysphagia for solids 23
Hoarseness 21
Belching 15
Aspiration 14
Wheezing 7
Globus 4

23. Montreal Classification of GERD
From Vakil N et al. Am J Gastroenterol 2006;101:1900-20.

24.  Two mechanisms:
-Microaspiration of gastric acid.
-Vagally mediated events.
Pulmonary manifestations
1 )Chronic cough :GERD one of three
most common cause along with PND & asthma.
 Predominantly day time & standing position.
 Non productive & long standing nature.
 > 50 % cases sole manifestation.
 Chest X-ray –normal.
 No evidence of asthma.

25. 2) asthma :- GERD is a potential trigger in many cases of asthma.

26.  Pneumonia
 Chronic bronchitis
 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
 Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

27. ENT manifestations
1) Reflux laryngitis :
• Gastric contents in larynx , pharynx and upper
aerodigestive tract.
• Mucosal damage.
• Direct effect on mucocilliary cleareance.
• Vagally mediated reflex.
 4 – 10 % GERD.
 SYMPTOMS :-
 hoarsness
 Globus sensation
 Chronic throat clearing
 Vocal fatigue , break
 Sore throat
 Neck pain
 Excessive throat mucus
 PND

28. Signs:- edema , erythema , increase vascularity .
Red , inflammed larynx.( posterior larynx).
Thickening of posterior laryngeal mucosa with hyperkeratosis
(pachyderma laryngeus(
Increase mucosal thickening with increase granularity & rough
cobbelstone appeareance –granular mucositis.
Increse mucus formationsilacov suclusoduesP .

29.  Ulceration
 Granuloma
 Polyp
 Leukoplakia
 Subglottic stenosis
 Cancer.

30. 2) Recurrent otitis media ( pepsin & pepsinogen
effusion).
GERD nasopharyngeal inflammation
obstruction of eustachian tube
3) chronic sinusitis – direct effect on mucociliary
cleareance.
4) dental erosions :- oral ulcers , halitosis.

31.  Heartburn & regurgitation- 66%
 Cervical dysphagia – 33%
 Globus pharyngeus – 19%
 Sore throat – 17%
 Chronic throat clearing – 4%

32. NEONATES/ INFANTS
OLDER CHILDREN/
ADOLESCENT
 Regurgitation –post
prandially
 Signs of esophagitis –
irritability, arching ,
gagging , chocking ,
feeding aversion.
 Failure to thrive.
 Poor weight gain.
 Early morning nausea
 Abdominal discomfort.
 Substernal pain.
 Recurrent vomiting.
 Heartburn.

33. Pulmonary
 Asthma
 Recurrent pneumonia
 Chronic cough
 Apnoea
 Chronic otitis media
 Hoarsness
 Globus sensation
 Sore throat
 Irritability
 Poor appetite
 Sleep disturbance

34. Diagnosis
Clinical symptoms and history.
Give empiric therapy and look for
improvement.
Endoscopy if warning signs present.

35. Diagnostic Tests for
GERD
• Barium swallow
• Endoscopy
• Ambulatory pH monitoring
• Impedance-pH monitoring
• Esophageal manometry

36. Barium Swallow
• Useful first diagnostic test for
patients with dysphagia
– Stricture (location, length(
– Mass (location, length(
– Hiatal hernia (size, type(
• Limitations
– Detailed mucosal exam for
erosive esophagitis, Barrett’s
esophagus

37. Endoscopy
• Indications
– Alarm symptoms
– Empiric therapy
failure
– Preoperative
evaluation
– Detection of Barrett’s
esophagus

38. Esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy
• Endoscopy (with biopsy if needed(
– In patients with alarm
signs/symptoms
– Those who fail a medication trial
– Those who require long-term tx
• Absence of endoscopic features
does not exclude a GERD diagnosis
• Allows for
detection, stratification, and
management of esophageal
manisfestations or complications of
GERD

39. pH
• 24-hour pH monitoring-----Physiologic study
–Accepted standard for establishing or
excluding presence of GERD for those
patients who do not have mucosal changes
–Trans-nasal catheter or a wireless, capsule
shaped device

40. Ambulatory 24 hr. pH Monitoring
Normal
GERD

41. Esophageal Manometry
• Assess LES pressure,
location and relaxation
• Assess peristalsis
– Prior to antireflux
surgery

42. Counseling Questions
Before recommending a therapy, ask:
◼ Duration and frequency of symptoms
◼ Quality and timing of symptoms
◼ Use of alcohol and tobacco
◼ Dietary choices
◼ Medications already tried to treat symptoms
◼ Other disease states present and medications
being used
◼ Cooperation with other specialties when the
atypical symptoms and signs are the
predominant .

43. Treatment
Three phases in treatment
◼ Phase I: Lifestyle changes – 2 weeks
Lifestyle modifications
Patient-directed therapy with OTC medications
◼ Phase II: Pharmacologic intervention
Standard/high-dose antisecretory therapy
◼ Phase III: Surgical intervention
Patients who fail pharmacologic treatment or have severe
complications of GERD
LES positioned within the abdomen where it is under positive
pressure

44. • Postsurgery
– 10% have solid food dysphagia
– 2-3% have permanent symptoms
– 7-10% have bloating, diarrhea, nausea, early
satiety

45. Special Populations
Infants can experience a form of GERD
◼ Postmeal regurgitation or small volume vomiting
◼ Occurs due to a poorly functioning sphincter
◼ Treatment
Supportive therapy
◼ Diet adjustments – smaller, more frequent feedings;
thickened feedings
◼ Postural management
H2RA’s (e.g. ranitidine 2 mg/kg) , PPIs, and antacids
have been used.

46. Special Populations
Pregnancy
◼ Common, due to decreased LES pressure
and increased abdominal pressure.
◼ Nearly half of all pregnant women experience.
◼ Antacids other than sodium bicarbonate
generally considered safe, but avoid chronic
high doses

47. GERD in the Elderly
In the US, 20% report acid reflux.
Worldwide, 3X prevalence in > 70 y of patients younger
than 39 y.
More likely to develop severe disease
More likely to be poorly diagnosed or underdiagnosed
◼ Due to atypical symptoms
Always look for medication causes

48. GERD in the elderly
Symptoms
◼ Dysphagia
◼ Vomiting
◼ Weight loss
◼ Anemia
◼ Anorexia
Typical symptoms are less frequent

49. GERD in the Elderly
Diagnosis should always include endoscopy.
Prokinetic agents should be avoided.
PPI’s are medications of choice for acute episodes
and prevention of recurrence due to efficacy, safety,
and tolerability.
Step down approach is preferred – more clinically
effective and more cost effective

50. Thank You