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To the Editor.—
Symptoms resulting from esophageal reflux and esophagitis are encountered frequently in medical practice. Various pain patterns, anxiety, dysphagia, regurgitation, bleeding, nocturnal cough, and wheezing are some of the familiar hallmarks of esophagitis and reflux. We have been impressed by another symptom not mentioned in standard references, and, to our knowledge, not emphasized in the medical literature. Nocturnal sweating has been a major complaint in at least four patients seen in the past six years and an abnormal finding upon direct questioning in a large number of other patients with esophageal reflux. Treatment usually consisted of elevation of the head of the bed at least 6 inches, and the use of a liquid antacid at bedtime. Weight reduction and, rarely, repair of hiatus hernia were also employed.The diagnosis of esophageal reflux was often suggested by positive esophageal acid drip test when a roentgenologic study of the gastrointestinal