Skip to main content
Thorax logoLink to Thorax
. 1981 Feb;36(2):116–121. doi: 10.1136/thx.36.2.116

Relationship between asthma and gastro-oesophageal reflux.

R J Goodall, J E Earis, D N Cooper, A Bernstein, J G Temple
PMCID: PMC471453  PMID: 7022737

Abstract

Twenty patients with bronchial asthma who also had gastro-oesophageal reflux were investigated. The severity of their reflux was graded using symptom score of heartburn and regurgitation and by the following investigations: barium swallow and meal, fibreoptic endoscopy and biopsy, manometry and pH monitoring of the distal oesophagus, and an acid infusion test. Full lung function studies were performed and patients were entered into a double-blind crossover study using cimetidine to control their reflux in order to assess beneficial effects with respect to their respiratory problems. Eighteen patients completed the study. Significant improvements were seen in reflux and night time asthmatic symptoms, both these indices being measured on a scoring system. Home monitoring of peak flow values showed a statistical improvement for th last peak flow reading of the day. Fourteen patients felt that their chest symptoms had significantly improved during the cimetidine period.

Full text

PDF
116

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. BERNSTEIN L. M., BAKER L. A. A clinical test for esophagitis. Gastroenterology. 1958 May;34(5):760–781. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Babb R. R., Notarangelo J., Smith V. M. Wheezing: a clue to gastroesophageal reflux. Am J Gastroenterol. 1970 Mar;53(3):230–233. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. CLEMENCON G. H., OSTERMAN P. O. Hiatal hernia in bronchial asthma: the importance of concomitant pulmonary emphysema. Gastroenterologia. 1961;95:110–120. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Davis M. V., Fiuzat J. Application of the Belsey hiatal hernia repair to infants and children with recurrent bronchitis, bronchiolitis, and pneumonitis due to regurgitation and aspiration. Ann Thorac Surg. 1967 Feb;3(2):99–110. doi: 10.1016/s0003-4975(10)66698-2. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. DeMeester T. R., Johnson L. F. The evaluation of objective measurements of gastroesophageal reflux and their contribution to patient management. Surg Clin North Am. 1976 Feb;56(1):39–53. doi: 10.1016/s0039-6109(16)40834-0. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Friedland G. W., Yamate M., Marinkovich V. A. Hiatal hernia and chronic unremitting asthma. Pediatr Radiol. 1973 Oct;1(3):156–160. doi: 10.1007/BF00974060. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Ghaed N., Stein M. R. Assessment of a technique for scintigraphic monitoring of pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents in asthmatics with gastroesophageal reflux. Ann Allergy. 1979 May;42(5):306–308. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Henn R. M., Isenberg J. I., Maxwell V., Sturdevant R. A. Inhibition of gastric acid secretion by cimetidine in patients with duodenal ulcer. N Engl J Med. 1975 Aug 21;293(8):371–375. doi: 10.1056/NEJM197508212930802. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Hills M., Armitage P. The two-period cross-over clinical trial. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1979 Jul;8(1):7–20. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1979.tb05903.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Klotz S. D., Moeller R. K. Hiatal hernia and intractable bronchial asthma. Ann Allergy. 1971 Jun;29(6):325–328. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Koch G. G. The use of non-parametric methods in the statistical analysis of the two-period change-over design. Biometrics. 1972 Jun;28(2):577–584. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Maconochie J. G., Woodings E. P., Richards D. A. Effects of H1- and H2-receptor blocking agents on histamine-induced bronchoconstriction in non-asthmatic subjects. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 1979 Mar;7(3):231–236. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1979.tb00927.x. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Mansfield L. E., Stein M. R. Gastroesophageal reflux and asthma: a possible reflex mechanism. Ann Allergy. 1978 Oct;41(4):224–226. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Mays E. E., Dubois J. J., Hamilton G. B. Pulmonary fibrosis associated with tracheobronchial aspiration. A study of the frequency of hiatal hernia and gastroesophageal reflux in interstitial pulmonary fibrosis of obscure etiology. Chest. 1976 Apr;69(4):512–515. doi: 10.1378/chest.69.4.512. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Mays E. E. Intrinsic asthma in adults. Association with gastroesophageal reflux. JAMA. 1976 Dec 6;236(23):2626–2628. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Nogrady S. G., Bevan C. Inhaled antihistamines--bronchodilatation and effects on histamine- and methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction. Thorax. 1978 Dec;33(6):700–704. doi: 10.1136/thx.33.6.700. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Nogrady S. G., Hartley J. P., Handslip P. D., Hurst N. P. Bronchodilatation after inhalation of the antihistamine clemastine. Thorax. 1978 Aug;33(4):479–482. doi: 10.1136/thx.33.4.479. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Overholt R. H., Ashraf M. M. Esophageal reflux as trigger in asthma. N Y State J Med. 1966 Dec 1;66(23):3030–3032. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Overholt R. H., Voorhees R. J. Esophageal reflux as a trigger in asthma. Dis Chest. 1966 May;49(5):464–466. doi: 10.1378/chest.49.5.464. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Pellegrini C. A., DeMeester T. R., Johnson L. F., Skinner D. B. Gastroesophageal reflux and pulmonary aspiration: incidence, functional abnormality, and results of surgical therapy. Surgery. 1979 Jul;86(1):110–119. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Pounder R. E., Williams J. G., Russell R. C., Milton-Thompson G. J., Misiewicz J. J. Inhibition of food-stimulated gastric acid secretion by cimetidine. Gut. 1976 Mar;17(3):161–168. doi: 10.1136/gut.17.3.161. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Reich S. B., Earley W. C., Ravin T. H., Goodman M., Spector S., Stein M. R. Evaluation of gastro-pulmonary aspiration by a radioactive technique: concise communication. J Nucl Med. 1977 Nov;18(11):1079–1081. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. VIVAS J. R., PALMER E. D. Incidence of chronic pulmonary disease among patients with esophageal disorders. Dis Chest. 1957 May;31(5):568–574. doi: 10.1378/chest.31.5.568. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Thorax are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES