Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and to evaluate its clinical presentation, as well as the esophageal function profile in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).


METHODS
In this prospective study, 28 consecutive patients with IPF underwent stationary esophageal manometry, 24-h esophageal pH-metry and pulmonary function tests. All patients also completed a symptom and quality of life in GERD questionnaire.


RESULTS
In the study sample, the prevalence of GERD was 35.7%. The patients were then divided into two groups: GERD+ (abnormal pH-metry; n = 10) and GERD- (normal pH-metry; n = 18). In the GERD+ group, 77.7% of the patients presented at least one typical GERD symptom. The pH-metry results showed that 8 (80%) of the GERD+ group patients had abnormal supine reflux, and that the reflux was exclusively in the supine position in 5 (50%). In the GERD+ and GERD- groups, respectively, 5 (50.0%) and 7 (38.8%) of the patients presented a hypotensive lower esophageal sphincter, 7 (70.0%) and 10 (55.5%), respectively, presenting lower esophageal dysmotility. There were no significant differences between the groups regarding demographic characteristics, pulmonary function, clinical presentation or manometric findings.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of GERD in the patients with IPF was high. However, the clinical and functional characteristics did not differ between the patients with GERD and those without.
Bandeira
Cristiane Dupont
CD
Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. crisband_rs@yahoo.com.br
Rubin
Adalberto Sperb
AS
Cardoso
Paulo Francisco Guerreiro
PF
Moreira
José da Silva
Jda S
Machado
Mirna da Mota
Mda M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015154:Esophageal Motility Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D050782:Esophageal pH Monitoring; D004947:Esophagus / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D054990:Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies