Published online May 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i5.1123
Revised: January 5, 2003
Accepted: January 16, 2003
Published online: May 15, 2003
AIM: To investigate the effects of antireflux treatment on bronchial hyper-responsiveness and lung function in asthmatic patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
METHODS: Thirty asthmatic patients with GERD were randomly divided into two groups (group A and group B). Patients in group A (n = 15) only received asthma medication including inhaled salbutamol 200 μg four times a day and budesonide 400 μg twice a day for 6 weeks. Patients in Group B (n = 15) received the same medication as group A, and also antireflux therapy including oral omeprazole 20 mg once a day and domperidone 10 mg three times a day for 6 weeks. Pulmonary function tests and histamine bronchoprovocation test were performed before and after the study.
RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the baseline values of pulmonary function and histamine PC20-FEV1 between the two groups. At the end of the study, the mean values for VC, VC%, FVC, FVC%, FEV1, FEV1%, PEF, PEF%, PC20-FEV1 were all significantly improved in group B, compared with
group A.
CONCLUSION: Antireflux therapy may improve pulmonary function and inhibit bronchial hyper-responsiveness in asthmatic patients with GERD.