Preferred treatment in symptomatic GERD

What is your preferred treatment in patients with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease?

Janusz Jankowski, MD, PhD: There is no question about it: high-dose [proton pump inhibitors] immediately to treat the patient to get rid of the inflammation. That is the most successful way. Then you can step down the therapy. The evidence shows [that in this way] you get the patient on your side, you get them confident that you know what you are doing rather than taking months to manage their symptoms.