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 microg four times a day and budesonide 400 microg 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 PC(20-FEV1) between the two groups. At the end of the study, the mean values for VC, VC%, FVC, FVC%, FEV(1), FEV(1)%, PEF, PEF%, PC(20-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.