Ambulatory pH monitoring: New advances and indications

Ambulatory pH monitoring is currently used to objectively demonstrate abnormal degrees of esophageal acid exposure in patients with suspected gastroesophageal reflux disease. The development of wireless pH capsule recording has improved the tolerability and increased the duration of pH recording. Use of symptom-reflux correlation measures and pH testing, combining periods off and on PPI therapy, serves to optimize the performance of conventional pH testing. On the other hand, devices that measure bile reflux as well as nonacid reflux (esophageal impedance testing) have broadened the definition of gastroesophageal reflux and present potential explanations for patients with continued symptoms despite high-dose PPI therapy. These advances and their current and future clinical applications are reviewed.