Heartburn differential diagnosis

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: José Eduardo Riceto Loyola Junior, M.D.[2]

Overview

Differentiating Heartburn from other Diseases

  • Heartburn must be differentiated from other diseases that cause chest pain, such as acute coronary syndromes.
  • Heartburn may also be differentiated from other diseases that cause dysphagia in high risk individuals.
  • Cardiac causes must be excluded since they can be life-threatening and may present with similar symptoms. In order to facilitate this, there's a table below which describes the life-threatening causes which must be differentiated:


Differentiating heartburn from angina [1] [2]
Heartburn (GERD) Angina or Heart Attack
Burning chest pain, begins at the breastbone Tightness, pressure, squeezing, stabbing or dull pain, most often in the center
Pain that radiates towards the throat Pain radiates to the shoulders, neck or arms
Sensation of food coming back to the mouth Irregular or rapid heartbeat
Acid taste in the back of the throat Cold sweat or clammy skin
Pain worsens when patient lie down or bend over Lightheadedness, weakness, dizziness, nausea, indigestion or vomiting
Appears after large or spicy meal Shortness of breath
Symptoms appears with physical exertion or extreme stress


While evaluating heartburn and considering gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) its most probable diagnosis, there's a diagnostic approach that must be performed in order to exclude other causes, especially in high risk patients, according the the American Journal of Gastroenterology guidelines.[3] :

 
 
 
Classic symptoms of GERD
(heartburn and regurgitation)
 
If there are warning signs*:
upper endoscopy during the initial evaluation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
PPI 8-week trial
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
If better: GERD probable
 
If refractory, proceed to refractory GERD algorithm


 
 
 
 
 
 
Treat GERD:
Start a 8-week course of PPI
 
If there are warning signs*:
upper endoscopy during the initial evaluation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Refractory GERD
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Optimize PPI therapy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
No response:
Exclude other etiologies
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Typical symptoms:
Upper endoscopy
 
 
 
 
 
Atypical symptoms:
Referral to ENT, pulmonary, allergy specialist
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Abnormal:
(eosinophilic esophagitis, erosive esophagitis, other)
Specific treatment
 
NORMAL
 
Abnormal:
(ENT, pulmonary, or allergic disorder)
Specific treatment
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REFLUX MONITORING
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Low pre test probability of GERD
 
High pre test probability of GERD
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Test off medication with pH or impedance-pH
 
Test on medication with impedance-pH
 
 
 
 



References

  1. "Heartburn vs. heart attack - Harvard Health".
  2. Bösner S, Haasenritter J, Becker A, Hani MA, Keller H, Sönnichsen AC; et al. (2009). "Heartburn or angina? Differentiating gastrointestinal disease in primary care patients presenting with chest pain: a cross sectional diagnostic study". Int Arch Med. 2: 40. doi:10.1186/1755-7682-2-40. PMC 2799444. PMID 20003376.
  3. Katz PO, Gerson LB, Vela MF (2013). "Guidelines for the diagnosis and management of gastroesophageal reflux disease". Am J Gastroenterol. 108 (3): 308–28, quiz 329. doi:10.1038/ajg.2012.444. PMID 23419381.