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Abstract

This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of esophageal motor abnormalities, the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux, and the coexistence of gastroesophageal reflux with esophageal dysmotility in patients with intrinsic asthma. Based on clinical criteria, 34 consecutive asthmatics, 15 patients with gastroesophageal reflux, and 10 subjects with upper gastrointestinal symptoms with normal results of esophageal manometry and 24-hr esophageal pH test (controls) were studied. Esophageal motor disorders were noted in 23 of 34 asthmatics, and in 10 of 15 patients with acid reflux but in none of the subjects of the control group. A positive result of the prolonged esophageal pH study (pH in the distal esophagus less than 4 for more than 4.2% of the recording time) was obtained in 14 of 17 patients with asthma (only 17 of the original patients were tested because the others did not give informed consence for this test) and in all patients with gastroesophageal reflux. None of the members of the control group had positive test results. The findings of this study show that: (1) it is possible to identify a group of subjects with nonallergic asthma presenting with esophageal dysmotility, (2) the 24-hr esophageal pH study must be properly done in such patients; (3) esophageal motor abnormalities are often associated with positive pH results; and (4) more reflux was observed while in a supine position (especially during the night) than that observed either in control or reflux patients. Based on these results, patients with intrinsic asthma with reflux can benefit from both acid suppressive and prokinetic drugs with notable clinical implications regarding standard treatment for asthma, and those with prevalent supine compared to upright reflux could even benefit from surgery.

Esophageal motility, vagal function and gastroesophageal reflux in a cohort of adult asthmatics

“…IEM has previously been described as the commonest motility pattern in subjects with reflux-associated respiratory symptoms [3]. Campo et al described esophageal dysmotility in 68% of asthmatics with reflux symptoms [2]. Abnormal esophageal motility has been described in patients with chronic cough [41].…”

“…In 34 non-allergic asthmatic people who underwent esophageal manometry because of gastrointestinal symptoms, 23 (68%) had esophageal dysmotility with low amplitude esophageal contractions, hypotensive lower esophageal sphincter (LES) and diffuse esophageal spasm [2]. Ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) was found to be the most common motility abnormality in patients with GERD-associated respiratory symptoms [3].…”

Azithromycin Reduces Gastroesophageal Reflux and Aspiration in Lung Transplant Recipients

“…Prokinetic drugs like cisapride, domperidone, and metoclopramide can improve esophageal motility and accelerate gastric emptying [21][22][23][24] and have been used either alone or in combination with PPI for the treatment of GER. Although esophageal and gastric hypomotility could be common in GER-related respiratory disorders [25,26], little is known about the effect of prokinetic drugs in these patients [27][28][29]. Macrolide antibiotics, like erythromycin, have a significant prokinetic effect and have also been proposed for the treatment of GERD [29][30][31].…”