Purpose and Overview

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been associated with airway disorders and pulmonary diseases, although the mechanism of their association remains unclear.  Understanding the effect of GERD on the development, disease course, and outcome of airway/pulmonary disorders would help providers develop optimal diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in managing these patients.  

There is currently no diagnostic gold standard for the evaluation of extraesophageal reflux.  A variety of diagnostic modalities and tests are clinically available, although each is associated with limitations.  Therefore, the diagnosis of extraesophageal reflux remains a significant clinical challenge.  Education on the current and emerging diagnostic modalities will assist physicians in providing the best practice for their patients with extraesophageal reflux symptoms.

Chronic lung diseases are highly morbid conditions and lung transplantation has the worst long-term outcomes among solid organ transplant. GERD has been associated with significant increase in risk of lung function decline, worse disease outcomes, lung allograft rejections.  Despite the strong evidence for the role of GERD in chronic lung disease and transplant outcomes, a standardized approach to the evaluation and management of GERD in this population has not been established or adopted.  Further research and establishment of guidelines in the role of GERD in these complex conditions would help address this significant unmet need in this challenging patient population.