Asthma and gastroesophageal reflux. Outcome of asthma after longterm medical treatment of the reflux

Over one half of the cases of chronic severe childhood asthma, refractory to conventional therapy and without other over aetiology, are associated to gastroesophageal reflux (GER). The aetiopathogenic role of GER in asthma is uncertain, and is only confirmed when therapy of the former induces evident improvement of the latter. We have instituted medical antireflux therapy over two years in 17 patients (17.6%) became asymptomatic after less than three months of therapy, and a further four (23.5%) by the sixth month. Seven patients showed clinical improvement by the third month (41%) and even a greater one by the sixth month, only very slight symptoms persisting thereafter. In three cases (17.6%) there was no improvement after two years of outcome of asthma and the persistence or not of pathological between the outcome of asthma and the persistence or not of pathological 24-hour pHmetry. On the contrary. macroscopic oesophagitis disappeared in the cases of asthma with good outcome, but persisted in all the cases who remained symptomatic. In conclusion, we consider that medical management of GER associated to asthma should be maintained for at least six months (if the clinical course so permits) before considering a surgical indication.