Genetics of pediatric gastroesophageal reflux.

Purpose Of Review: Recent advances in molecular genetics clearly demonstrate that a patient's susceptibility to developing a common disease is the result of an underlying genetic predisposition. Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is proving to be no exception. The results of family and twin studies have identified an inherited tendency toward developing the disease, and a locus common to multiple families with severe GERD has been found on 13q14, known as GERD1.