Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) is one of the most common disorders in medical practice. It is the most common gastrointestinal diagnosis recorded during visits to outpatient clinics in the United States. Apart from the economic burden of the disease and its impact on the quality of life, GERD is the most common predisposing factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Recently, many important issues have emerged regarding the classification, pathogenesis, natural history, and treatment of GERD. Although proton pump inhibitors are effective in relieving reflux symptoms during initial treatment, most GERD patients need long-term treatment for frequent relapses after discontinuing acid inhibition therapy. This has led to great interest in new endoscopic therapies for the treatment of the disease. However, most of them were withdrawn soon after introduction due to the lack of long-term effects or the development of severe side effects. With regard to the diagnosis of GERD, patients with refractory reflux symptoms and normal upper endoscopy are more difficult to diagnose and treat. Combined 24 h pH and impedance monitoring allows classifying the patients as having true nonerosive reflux disease (NERD), hypersensitive esophagus, or functional heartburn and is helpful for further management of the patients.

The main focus of the special issue will focus on recent advances in the treatment of erosive esophagitis, NERD, and Barrett's esophagus. The emerging diagnostic methods, pharmacological treatments, and endoscopic therapies for GERD will be also introduced. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Pathogenesis of GERD
• Current algorithms for the treatment of GERD
• Update of NERD
• Management of refractory GERD
• Endoscopic therapy for Barrett's esophagus
• Esophageal pH impedance monitoring in patients with therapy-resistant reflux symptoms

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