title: The efficacy of sodium alginate (Gaviscon) for the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux in preterm infants.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gastro-oesophageal reflux is common in preterm newborns; at present, no studies have evaluated the efficacy of sodium alginate in this population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of sodium alginate on gastro-oesophageal reflux features in preterm newborns by combined pH and impedance monitoring (pH-MII).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-two symptomatic preterm newborns underwent a 24 h pH-MII, during which each baby was fed eight times. Sodium alginate was given four times at alternate meals [drug-given (DG) vs. drug-free (DF) meals]. Gastro-oesophageal reflux features (i.e. number, acidity, duration and height of gastro-oesophageal reflux) after DG and DF meals were compared by Wilcoxon signed ranks test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sodium alginate significantly decreased the number of acid gastro-oesophageal reflux detected either by pH monitoring (DG vs. DF: median 17.00 vs. 29.00, P = 0.002) and MII (DG vs. DF: 4.0 vs. 6.00, P = 0.050), and also acid oesophageal exposure (DG vs. DF: 4.0% vs. 7.6%, P = 0.030), without any influence on non-acid gastro-oesophageal reflux. Furthermore, it decreased the number of gastro-oesophageal reflux reaching proximal oesophagus (DG vs. DF: 5.50 vs. 7.50, P = 0.030).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of sodium alginate in preterm infants seems to be promising, because this drug decreases gastro-oesophageal reflux acidity and height with the advantage of a nonsystemic way of action and a more favourable safety profile over H2 blockers and PPIs.
authors.affiliation: S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy. luigi.corvaglia@unibo.it
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Corvaglia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aceti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mariani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Giorgi
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Capretti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Faldella
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000863:Antacids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005745:Gastric Acidity Determination; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D012824:Silicic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D000863:Antacids; D004338:Drug Combinations; D012824:Silicic Acid; D000536:Aluminum Hydroxide; C007829:alginate, aluminium hydroxide, magnesium trisilicate, sodium bicarbonate drug combination; D017693:Sodium Bicarbonate