Antireflux treatment for asthma. Improvement in patients with associated gastroesophageal reflux

A Proton Pump Inhibitor, Lansoprazole, Ameliorates Asthma Symptoms in Asthmatic Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

“…There have been many studies dealing with asthma outcome and medical anti-reflux therapy. Field and Sutherland (1998) reviewed the previously published data on medical anti-reflux therapy with H 2 -receptor blockers (H 2 blockers), cimetidine (Goodall et al 1981;Larrain et al 1991) and ranitidine (Harper et al 1987;Nagel et al 1988;Ekstrom et al 1989;Gustaffson et al 1992), and with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) omeprazole (Ford et al 1994;Meier et al 1994;Harding et al 1996;Teichtahl et al 1996), showing that asthma symptoms were improved. Kiljander (2003) suggested that, in the management of GERD-related asthma, PPIs other than omeprazole should be used at double the standard dose.…”

Severe α<SUB>1</SUB>-antitrypsin deficiency and pregnancy

“…Previously published reports of the effects of medical antireflux therapy in asthma have claimed effects ranging from improvements in lung function [2], asthma medication requirements, and asthma symptoms to no therapeutic benefit [3]. Limiting analysis to the controlled studies suggests that medical antireflux therapy does not improve lung function, but does improve asthma symptoms [4].…”

Difficult/therapy-resistant asthma The need for an integrated approach to define clinical phenotypes, evaluate risk factors, understand pathophysiology and find novel therapies

“…Gastro-oesophageal reflux is commonly noted in asthmatics, with a reported incidence of up to 60% in children with moderate-to-severe asthma [8,9]. Although a precise mechanistic link between gastro-oesophageal reflux and a decline in asthma control is not established, varying degrees of improvement in asthma have been observed when concomitant gastrooesophageal reflux has been treated [10,11]. Sinusitis/ rhinitis and asthma are frequently coexisting problems [12], and significant improvement in asthma control may be obtained with targeted treatment for sinusitis/rhinitis [13].…”