Some patients with erosive esophagitis are asymptomatic, but they are at risk for complications if it is chronic.
Asymptomatic erosive esophagitis consists of both of the following:
(1) endoscopic evidence of esophageal hypermic streaks or mucosal breaks
(2) no clinical symptoms
Typical clinical symptoms of reflux disease include:
(1) heartburn (hot or burning sensation in substernal area)
(2) acid taste in mouth (acid regurgitation)
Risk factors (Lee, 2016):
(1) male gender
(2) heavy alcohol use
(3) hiatal hernia
(4) body mass index >= 25 kg per square meter
(5) negative for Helicobacter pylori (this group would probably be symptomatic)
Complications:
(1) Barrett's metaplasia with risk of adenocarcinoma
(2) stricture
(3) sentinel polyp
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Specialty: Gastroenterology
