%0 Journal Article %T Current Pharmacological Management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease %A Yao-Kuang Wang %A Wen-Hung Hsu %A Sophie S. W. Wang %A Chien-Yu Lu %A Fu-Chen Kuo %A Yu-Chung Su %A Sheau-Fang Yang %A Chiao-Yun Chen %A Deng-Chyang Wu %A Chao-Hung Kuo %J Gastroenterology Research and Practice %D 2013 %I Hindawi Publishing Corporation %R 10.1155/2013/983653 %X Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a common disorder with troublesome symptoms caused by reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus, has adverse impact on quality of life. A variety of medications have been used in GERD treatment, and acid suppression therapy is the mainstay of treatment for GERD. Although proton pump inhibitor is the most potent acid suppressant and provides good efficacy in esophagitis healing and symptom relief, about one-third of patients with GERD still have persistent symptoms with poor response to standard dose PPI. Antacids, alginate, histamine type-2 receptor antagonists, and prokinetic agents are usually used as add-on therapy to PPI in clinical practice. Development of novel therapeutic agents has focused on the underlying mechanisms of GERD, such as transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation, motility disorder, mucosal protection, and esophageal hypersensitivity. Newer formulations of PPI with faster and longer duration of action and potassium-competitive acid blocker, a newer acid suppressant, have also been investigated in clinical trials. In this review, we summarize the current and developing therapeutic agents for GERD treatment. 1. Introduction Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common gastrointestinal disorder in the general population, and its prevalence is increasing worldwide [1]. According to the Montreal definition, GERD is diagnosed when the reflux of stomach contents causes troublesome symptoms and/or complications [2], and it is the most common outpatient gastrointestinal disease diagnosed in USA [3]. Reflux from stomach causes symptoms like heartburn and regurgitation, which are the cardinal symptoms of GERD, and other symptoms, such as chest pain, asthma, hoarseness, and sleep disturbance, are also considered as atypical or extraesophageal symptoms of GERD [4]. Troublesome symptoms of GERD have adverse impact on health-related quality of life (HRQL) [5], and patients with more frequent or more severe symptoms have lower HRQL, work productivity, and sleep quality [5, 6]. Chronic reflux is also an important risk factor of esophageal adenocarcinoma [7]. There are many factors contributing to GERD, including transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation (TLESR), reduced LES pressure, impaired esophageal mucosal defense, poor esophageal clearance, visceral hypersensitivity, hiatal hernia, and delayed gastric emptying, and TLESRs is the predominant mechanism of reflux formation [8]. Obesity is an independent risk factor for development of GERD and is also associated with its complications, %U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/grp/2013/983653/