Clinical classification and characteristics of consecutive patients with frequent heartburn

Objective To study the classification and characteristics of heartburn patients based on endoscopy, 24 hours esophageal pH monitoring and PPI trial according to Roma M criteria. Methods Consecutive patients with frequent heartburn were enrolled and required to fill out a questionnaire. An upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed for each patient and those having a normal endoscopy were followed by 24 hours esophageal pH monitoring with calculated symptom index. Finally, all patients were administrated with PPI (esomeprazole 20 mg twice daily, 14 days). Results Sixty -two patients were enrolled and composed by RE (16 cases) , NERD (39 cases) and FH(7 cases) and NERD were divided into 3 subgroups. Among all patients with normal 24 hours pH monitoring, significant differences were seen in several parameters between NERD patients and FH patients; No significant difference was found in acid exposure time between patients with positive PPI trial and those negative (χ2 = 2. 681, P = 0. 102). Conclusions Heartburn patients can be classified into RE, NERD and FH according to Roma Ⅲ criteria. NERD and FH are heterogeneous disease with distinct clinical characteristics. Key words: Heartburn;  Non -erosive reflux disease;  Functional heartburn