Gastro-esophageal relux disease inluence on asthma symptoms: Assessment of non-responder to the standard treatment

Aim. The study aims to emphasize the inluence of gastroesophageal relux on respiratory symptoms of asthma patients, especially for those non-responders to standard therapy of asthma. Methods. One-hundred and forty-eight patients with asthma, who were given a questionnaire to assess disease control asthma and the presence of gastro-esophageal relux disease (GERD), were enrolled. Results. Of the 148 patients enrolled, 39 (26.35%) had relux symptoms associated with asthma. At endoscopy, 19 had esophagitis, while 16 showed signs of relux esophagitis, assessed according to the classiication of Los Angeles. In the latter patients, the pH-metry of the 24 hours recorded acid reluxes with values of pH<4, for a time greater than 5%. Conclusion. The presence of GERD may affect asthma control and the lack of response to medical management of asthma can be a clear signal of gastro-esophageal relux disease.