[Reflux disease].

Reflux disease is a very frequent condition; its most frequent symptom, pyrosis, is found daily in 7% of the population. The disease is dut to the aggressive action of the gastroesophageal reflux "faced" by defensive oesophageal mechanisms. Reflux disease is classified as endoscopically positive with an obvious finding of oesophagitis and endoscopically negative with a normal endoscopic finding but detectable histological changes. Complications of the disease include strictures, ulcers, haemorrhage and Barrett's oesophagus. In the therapeutic regime provisions are used, medicamentous treatment (antacids, sucralphate, prokinetics, antagonists of H2 receptors and proton pump inhibitors) and surgical treatment. In the therapeutic strategy two procedures are possible: 1. the method of choice (treatment with a single drug) and 2. stepwise therapy a) step-up-the basis are regime provisions and gradually drugs are added, b) step-down-treatment is started with the most effective drug, the proton pump inhibitor, and is reduced gradually). Treatment has a short-term character (treatment of the acute attack) and long-term (maintenance treatment). Contemporary therapeutic possibilities improve the prognosis of the disease and the quality of life of patients with reflux disease to the quality level of the normal population.