The Burning Issue of Chronic Gastroesophageal Reflux
Authors: Glenn M. Eisen
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2000)

Editorials1 August 2000The Burning Issue of Chronic Gastroesophageal RefluxGlenn M. Eisen, MD, MPHGlenn M. Eisen, MD, MPHVanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville, TN 37232-2279 (Eisen)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-133-3-200008010-00016 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma, especially among white men, has increased steeply in the past two decades in the United States and several western European countries. Previously, fewer than 15% of all esophageal cancers were adenocarcinomas, but by 1994, nearly 60% were of this type (1). The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry noted a more than 100% increase in the incidence of this tumor from 1976 to 1987 (2). Furthermore, the National Cancer Institute has reported a dismal overall 5-year survival rate of 11% for this disease (3).Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most prevalent gastrointestinal ...References1. Blot WJ, McLaughlin JK. The changing epidemiology of esophageal cancer. Semin Oncol. 1999;26(5 Suppl 15):2-8. Google Scholar2. Blot WJ, Devesa SS, Kneller RW, Fraumeni JF. Rising incidence of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and gastric cardia. JAMA. 1991;265:1287-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Ries I, Kosary CL, Hankey B, Fever EJ, Merrill RM, Clegg LX, et al . Cancer Statistics Review 1973-1994. NIH Publication No. 97-2789. Bethesda, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; 1997. Google Scholar4. Locke GR, Talley NJ, Fett SL, Zinsmeister AR, Melton LJ. Prevalence and clinical spectrum of gastroesophageal reflux: a population-based study in Olmstead County, Minnesota. Gastroenterology. 1997;112:1448-56. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Nebel OT, Fornes MF, Castell DO. Symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux: incidence and precipitating factors. Am J Dig Dis. 1976;21:953-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. Levin TR, Schmittdiel JA, Kunz K, Henning JM, Henke CJ, Colby CJ, et al . Costs of acid-related disorders to a health maintenance organization. Am J Med. 1997;103:520-8. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. Dimenas E, Glise H, Hallerback B, Hernqvist H, Svedlund J, Wiklund I. Quality of life in patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. An improved evaluation of treatment regimens? Scand J Gastroenterol. 1993;28(8):681-7. CrossrefGoogle Scholar8. Boyzmski EM, Herlihy KJ, Orlando RC. Barrett's esophagus. Ann Intern Med. 1982;97:103-7. LinkGoogle Scholar9. Spechler SJ, Goyal RK. Barrett's esophagus. N Engl J Med. 1986;315:362-71. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. Hameeteman W, Tytgat GN, Houthoff HJ, van den Tweel JG. Barrett's esophagus: development of dysplasia and adenocarcinoma. Gastroenterology. 1989;96:1249-56. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar11. Cameron AJ, Ott BJ, Payne WS. The incidence of adenocarcinoma in columnar-lined (Barrett's) esophagus. N Engl J Med. 1985;313:857-9. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar12. Chow WH, Finkle WD, McLaughlin JK, Frankl H, Ziel HK, Fraumeni JF. The relation of gastroesophageal reflux disease and its treatment to adenocarcinomas of the esophagus and gastric cardia. JAMA. 1995;274:474-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar13. Lagergren J, Bergström R, Lindgren A, Nyrén O. Symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux as a risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma. N Engl J Med. 1999;340:825-31. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar14. Lagergren J, Bergström R, Nyrén O. Association between body mass and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and gastric cardia. Ann Intern Med. 1999;130:883-90. LinkGoogle Scholar15. Lagergren J, Bergström R, Adami HO, Nyrén O. Association between medications that relax the lower esophageal sphincter and risk for esophageal adenocarcinoma. Ann Intern Med. 2000;133:165-75. LinkGoogle Scholar16. Vaughan TL, Farrow DC, Hansten PD, Chow WH, Gammon MD, Risch HA, et al . Risk of esophageal and gastric adenocarcinomas in relation to use of calcium channel blockers, asthma drugs, and other medications that promote gastroesophageal reflux. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 1998;7:749-56. MedlineGoogle Scholar17. el-Serag HB, Sonnenberg A. Opposing time trends of peptic ulcer and reflux disease. Gut. 1998;43:327-33. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar18. Chow WH, Blaser MJ, Blot WJ, Gammon MD, Vaughan TL, Risch HA, et al . An inverse relation between cag A+ strains of Helicobacter pylori infection and risk of esophageal and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma. Cancer Res. 1998;58:588-90. MedlineGoogle Scholar19. Farrow DC, Vaughan TL, Hansten PD, Stanford JL, Risch HA, Gammon MD, et al . Use of aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and risk of esophageal and gastric cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 1998;7:97-102. MedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: Glenn M. Eisen, MD, MPHAffiliations: Vanderbilt University Medical Center; Nashville, TN 37232-2279 (Eisen)Note: Dr. Eisen is on the speakers' bureau for AstraZeneca and is a consultant to Searle Pharmaceuticals, Merck and Co., and Novartis.Corresponding Author: Glenn M. Eisen, MD, MPH, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, C-2104 Medical Center North, Nashville, TN 37232-2279; e-mail, glenn.[email protected]vanderbilt.edu PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoAssociation between Medications That Relax the Lower Esophageal Sphincter and Risk for Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Jesper Lagergren , Reinhold Bergström , Hans-Olov Adami , and Olof Nyrén Metrics Cited byEpidemiology of Adenocarcinoma of the Esophagus, Gastric Cardia, and Upper Gastric ThirdEpidemiology of esophageal adenocarcinomaRecent changes in the epidemiology of esophageal cancerAN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH TO GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE 1 August 2000Volume 133, Issue 3Page: 227-229KeywordsAdenocarcinomaBody mass indexCardiaDrugsEpidemiologyEsophageal adenocarcinomaEsophagusGastroesophageal reflux diseaseMedical risk factorsQuality of life ePublished: 15 August 2000 Issue Published: 1 August 2000 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2000 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...