Peptic Esophageal Stricture: Medical Treatment

Peptic esophageal stricture as a consequence of gastroesophageal reflux disease is the most frequent among benign esophageal strictures. The incidence is low and has been decreasing since the 1990s with a parallel increase in proton pump inhibitor use. Dysphagia is a common symptom: accurate diagnostic procedures (barium esophagogram, upper endoscopy with biopsies) have to be performed to exclude malignant causes first. Medical (acid-suppressive) therapy, endoscopic dilation and surgical intervention are the main therapeutic options. Based on the results of randomized and observational studies evaluating the effect of acid-suppressive therapy on peptic stricture outcome, healing the coexistent esophagitis seems to be essential. Effective acid-suppressive therapy with proton pump inhibitors may reduce the need for repeated dilations and provide symptom relief and better clinical outcome. In refractory strictures, local steroid injection is likely beneficial.