title: Effects of bronchial obstruction on lower esophageal sphincter motility and gastroesophageal reflux in patients with asthma.
abstract: The relationship between gastroesophageal reflux and asthma remains unclear. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of bronchial obstruction on lower esophageal sphincter (LES) motility and reflux in patients with asthma. LES motility and esophageal pH were assessed in eight subjects with intermittent asthma and eight healthy volunteers during three consecutive 30-minute periods: baseline, methacholine-induced bronchospasm, and after inhalation of the beta2-agonist salbutamol. Healthy subjects inhaled 2 mg of methacholine, whereas subjects with asthma inhaled the dose of methacholine causing a 15% fall in FEV(1), as determined by a previous methacholine challenge. LES motility, esophageal pH, and FEV(1) were not significantly different between the three periods in healthy subjects. In patients with asthma, methacholine induced a 21.9 +/- 2.6% decrease in FEV(1) and a concomitant increase in the rate of transient LES relaxation (TLESR) and reflux episodes. Inhalation of salbutamol decreased the rate of TLESRs but not the number of reflux episodes. We conclude that in patients with asthma, methacholine-induced bronchospasm increases the rate of TLESR and the number of reflux episodes. These results support the belief that, in asthma, bronchial obstruction may be responsible for reflux or may aggravate reflux through a mechanism that remains to be further clarified.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Hépato-gastroentérologie, Hôpital Saint-André, Bordeaux. frank.zerbib@chu-bordeaux.fr
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zerbib
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Guisset
authors.forename: Hervé
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lamouliatte
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Quinton
authors.forename: Jean Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Galmiche
authors.forename: J Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tunon-De-Lara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001982:Bronchial Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D015154:Esophageal Motility Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004943:Esophagogastric Junction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016210:Methacholine Chloride / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents; D016210:Methacholine Chloride