Diagnosis and Management Commentary Full text of article Current Scan list Journal Scan archive Archives of Internal Medicine Vol. Diagnosis and Management Abstract Gastroesophageal reflux is common among asthmatics. It not only may worsen during an episode of airways obstruction but also may serve as a trigger for such an attack. Both animal and clinical data suggest that gastroesophageal reflux serves as a trigger of bronchospasm, potentiates the bronchomotor response to additional triggers, or both. Despite the use of inadequate doses of acid-suppressive medicines, clinical trials have documented improvement in respiratory symptoms among asthmatics following the treatment of reflux.
Recent trials suggest long-term improvement in respiratory symptoms following antireflux surgery.
Selected patients with asthma should be evaluated for gastroesophageal reflux. If it is present, such patients may benefit from aggressive antireflux therapy. This site produced by the Journal of the American Medical Association . All rights reserved.