[The relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease and idiopathic pulmonary interstitial fibrosis].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary interstitial fibrosis (IPIF).


METHODS
From December 2006 to January 2008, 24 consecutive patients with IPIF admitted to Beijing Chaoyang Hospital underwent 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring and esophageal manometry. Meanwhile, 23 patients with diffuse parenchymal lung disease (DPLD) (excluding IPIF) admitted to the hospital in the same period served as a control group. Comparison of the prevalence of pathologic esophageal acid exposure GERD symptoms, and ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) between the two groups was made. In this study, nocturnal acid exposure is defined as acid reflux episodes occurring from 10pm to 6am.


RESULTS
(1) 16 out of the 24 (66.7%) patients with IPIF were demonstrated to have pathologic esophageal acid exposure; the prevalence of GERD in IPIF patients was significantly higher than that in other DPLD patients, whose prevalence was 26.1% (P < 0.05) ; (2) 87.5% patients with IPIF and GERD (GERD-IPIF) had nocturnal acid exposure episodes; (3) only 37.5% of the GERD-IPIF patients was found to have typical GERD symptoms such as heartburn and regurgitation; (4) The prevalence of IEM was similar in IPIF and other DPLD patients, being 42.9% and 39.1% respectively (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
IPIF patients have higher prevalence of GERD and most of them usually do not show typical reflux symptoms. It is hereby suggested that IPIF patients should be screened with pH monitoring for GERD.
Liang
Xiu-xia
XX
Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100020, China.
Shang
Zhan-min
ZM
Dai
Hua-ping
HP
Huang
Wan-nong
WN
Hao
Jian-yu
JY
D000368:Aged; D050782:Esophageal pH Monitoring; D004947:Esophagus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D054990:Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence