title: [Lung function and gastroesophageal reflux during chronic bronchitis (author's transl)].
abstract: The coexistence of gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and respiratory diseases has led us to raise three questions : 1) how frequent is GER in patients with chronic bronchitis?, 2) is the respiratory function in patients with chronic bronchitis different when they have a GER and when they do not?, 3) is the GER different in patients with chronic bronchitis and in subjects not suffering with chronic bronchitis? The study of esophageal pH after a test meal showed there was a GER in 29 out of the 47 patients studied. The measurements of lung volume, air flow, pulmonary compliance, as well as the alveolo-capillary transfer of carbon monoxide, showed that there was no difference in the lung function of bronchitics whether they had a reflux or not. On the other hand, refluxes are less frequent but longer in patients having bronchitis and a GER, than in those having a GER but not having bronchitis. This must be linked to a low esophageal clearance which could be related to the attack of bronchitis. Only a well carried out prospective study of the treatment of GER in patients will reveal if the reflux increases bronchitic symptoms.
mesh_terms: D001991:Bronchitis / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests
vernacular_title: Fonction respiratoire et reflux gastro-oesophagien au cours de la bronchite chronique.