A preliminary investigation of anti-reflux intervention for gastroesophageal reflux related childhood-to-adult persistent asthma

BACKGROUND Childhood-to-adult persistent asthma is usually considered to be an atopic disease. However gastroesophageal reflux may also play an important role in this phenotype of asthma, especially when it is refractory to pulmonary medicine. METHODS Fifty-seven consecutive GERD patients who had decades of childhood-to-adult persistent asthmatic symptoms refractory to pulmonary medication were enrolled. GERD was assessed by a symptom questionnaire, endoscopy, reflux monitoring, and manometry, and treated by Stretta radiofrequency (SRF) or laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF). The outcomes were followed up with a questionnaire for an average of 3.3 ± 1.1 years. RESULTS Upper esophageal sphincter hypotonia, lower esophageal sphincter (LES) hypotonia, shortened LES, and esophageal body dyskinesia were demonstrated by esophagus manometry in 50.9%, 43.9%, 35.1%, and 45.6% of the patients, respectively. The symptom scores for heartburn, regurgitation, coughing, wheezing, and chest tightness significantly decreased from 5.8 ± 2.0, 5.6 ± 2.0, 7.3 ± 1.6, 8.4 ± 1.2, and 8.1 ± 1.5, to 1.2 ± 1.8, 1.1 ± 1.6, 2.8 ± 2.5, 3.8 ± 2.7, and 3.9 ± 2.7, respectively, after anti-reflux treatment (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Esophagus dysfunction is high in childhood-to-adult persistent asthmatic patients with GERD. SRF and LNF are both effective for esophagus symptoms as well as persistent asthmatic symptoms for these patients. GER may relate with asthmatic symptoms in some patients. Evaluating asthmatic patients for possible treatment of the underlying cause, such as GERD, may improve symptoms and prevent disease persistence.