近幾十年胃食道逆流症狀和逆流性食道炎在台灣有明顯增加的情況，這也使得胃食道逆流疾病(gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD) 成為一個重要的疾病。主要的致病機轉除了陣發性下食道括約肌鬆弛，酸袋(acid pocket) 的形成也是另一個造成胃酸逆流重要的因素。氫離子幫浦抑制劑是胃食道逆流疾病的主要治療藥物，但長期服用可能造成的副作用也不斷受到關注。幽門螺旋桿菌和胃食道逆流疾病之間的關係也一直受到討論，雖然目前還未有定論，但統合分析顯示幽門螺旋桿菌的根除治療不會增加胃食道逆流疾病的發生。慢性的胃食道逆流疾病會造成巴瑞特氏食道(Barrett's esophagus) 的產生，所以對於有危險因子的病人應進行內視鏡檢查來診斷巴瑞特氏食道。另外對於巴瑞特氏食道病人的定期追蹤也很重要，因為巴瑞特氏食道有癌化的危險性，及早診斷可以治癒的早期食道癌將會改善病人的預後，所以對於食道黏膜高度異生或黏膜內惡性腫瘤應積極地進行內視鏡或手術治療。

The prevalence of reflux symptoms and reflux esophagitis significantly has increased in recent decades and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has become an important disease in Taiwan. Besides transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations, the position of the acid pocket is a major factor that causes acidic reflux in patient with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) is the standard pharmacological treatment of GERD and long-term use of PPI has raised the concern about potential adverse effects. The relationship between Helicobacter pylori infection and GERD is still controversial and eradication therapy seems not to increase incidence of GERD by meta-analysis. Chronic GERD is the major risk factor of Barrett's esophagus and endoscopic screening is recommended for patients with GERD who have risk factors of Barrett's esophagus. Regular endoscopic surveillance is suggested for patients with Barrett's esophagus because Barrett's esophagus is a premalignant lesion. Early detection of treatable esophageal adenocarcinoma can reduce mortality and endoscopic therapy or surgical therapy should be considered for patients with high-grade dysplasia or intramucosal carcinoma.