Effect of gluten-free diet on preventing recurrence of gastroesophageal reflux disease-related symptoms in adult celiac patients with nonerosive reflux disease.
OBJECTIVE
In celiac disease (CD) the role of a gluten-free diet (GFD) on gastroesophageal reflux disease-related symptoms (GERD-rs) is unclear. The aim of this study was to establish the recurrence of GERD-rs, in CD patients with nonerosive reflux disease (NERD).


METHODS
From a total of 105 adult CD patients observed, 29 who presented with the NERD form were enrolled in the study. Thirty non-CD patients with NERD were studied as controls. Recurrence of GERD-rs was clinically assessed at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months follow-up (FU) after withdrawal of initial proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment for 8 weeks.


RESULTS
GERD-rs were resolved in 25 (86.2%) CD patients and in 20 (66.7%) controls after 8 weeks of PPI treatment. In the CD group, recurrence of GERD-rs was found in five cases (20%) at 6 months but in none at 12, 18, and 24 months while in the control group recurrence was found in six of 20 controls (30%), in another six (12/20, 60%), in another three (15/20, 75%), and in another two (17/20, 85%) at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months FU respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study is the first to have evaluated the effect of a GFD in the nonerosive form of GERD in CD patients, by means of clinical long-term follow-up, suggesting that GFD could be a useful approach in reducing GERD symptoms and in the prevention of recurrence.
Gastroenterology Unit, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, CA, Italy. usaip@pacs.unica.it
Paolo
P
Usai
Roberto
R
Manca
Rosario
R
Cuomo
Maria Antonia
MA
Lai
Luigi
L
Russo
Maria Francesca
MF
Boi
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000150:complications / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D055050:Diet, Gluten-Free; D018450:Disease Progression; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004945:Esophagoscopy; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006356:Heartburn / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors