[Effectiveness of antireflux therapy in asthmatic children with gastroesophageal reflux disease]. / Eficienta terapiei antireflux la copiii astmatici cu boala de reflux gastroesofagian.

There is an increased interest within literature regarding the relationship between gastro-esophageal reflux disease and asthma. The study was performed to assess the efficiency of antireflux therapy in asthmatic children. In a group of asthmatic children (n = 34, 22 male, age range: 2, 5-17 years) the pulmonary function tests were made by means of spirometry in those patients in which reflux disease was diagnosed by means of 24h esophageal pH-monitoring and upper digestive endoscopy. All these patients were reevaluated by means of spirometry 3 months after the antireflux therapy with ranitidine and cisapride added to antiasthmatic therapy. Three months later the results showed a significant decrease in frequency of asthma exacerbations from 3.18 +/- 4.86 to 0.45 +/- 0.80 (p = 0.016). There is also a significant increase of FEV1 (p = 0.04) and of FEV1/FVC (p = 0.018) in asthmatic patients with reflux disease and a positive symptomatic index, and of FEV1/FVC (p = 0.002) in all asthmatic children with abnormal gastro-esophageal reflux respectively. In conclusion, by adding antireflux therapy in asthmatic children there is a significant improvement in clinical and some of functional parameters.

[Gastroesophageal reflux in asthmatic children: prevalence and pathogenic role]. / Refluxul gastro-esofagian patologic la copii cu astm bronsic: prevalenta si rol patogenetic.

The relationship of gastroesophageal reflux disease and asthma is controversial. This study was performed to assess the prevalence of pathologic gastroesophageal reflux and its effect on pulmonary function tests in asthmatic children. The following study protocol was performed in a group of asthmatic children (n = 34, 22 male, age range: 2, 5-17 years): diagnosis of pathologic gastroesophageal reflux by means of 24h esophageal pH-monitoring; diagnosis of reflux esophagitis by means of upper digestive endoscopy and pulmonary function tests by means of spirometry. The results show a high prevalence (87%) of pathologic gastroesophageal reflux in asthmatic children. Additionally, there is an inverse correlation (r = -0.67) between the severity of pathologic gastroesophageal reflux and FEV1/FVC. In conclusion, there is a high prevalence of pathologic gastro-esophageal reflux in asthmatic children, contributing to asthma severity.