Etiology and treatment options for refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease: A scope review.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a common digestive disorder, typically classified into three types based on its pathological characteristics: erosive esophagitis, non-erosive reflux disease, and Barrett's esophagus. Recently, a subset of patients has exhibited poor responses to standard treatments, and they have been diagnosed with refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease. The etiology of refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease is multifactorial, and its management remains challenging, making it a focus of current research. This review aims to systematically summarize the etiology of refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease and evaluate integrated treatment strategies combining traditional Chinese and Western medicine with the purpose of guiding clinical practice.