title: The association between reflux esophagitis and airway hyper-reactivity in patients with gastro-esophageal reflux.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The association of gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) with a wide variety of pulmonary disorders was recognized. We aimed to evaluate the effect of GER-induced esophagitis on airway hyper-reactivity (AHR) in patients and the response to treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cohort study, 30 patients attending the gastrointestinal clinic of a university hospital with acid reflux symptoms were included. All patients were evaluated endoscopically and divided into case group with esophagitis and control group without any evidence of esophagitis. Spirometry and methacholine test were done in all patients before and after treatment of GER with pantoprazole 40 mg daily for six months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant difference in the rate of positive methacholine test between the cases (40%) and the controls (6.7%) prior to anti-acid therapy (P < 0.0001). After six months of treatment, the frequency of positive methacholine test diminished from 40 to 13.3% in the case group (P < 0.05) but did not change in the controls (P = 0.15).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of esophagitis due to GER would increase the AHR and treatment with pantoperazole would decrease AHR in patients with proved esophagitis and no previous history of asthma after six months.
authors.affiliation: Baqiyatallah Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ashraf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karbasi
authors.forename: Mohammad Emami
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ardestani
authors.forename: Mostafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghanei
authors.forename: Ali Amini
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Harandi
keywords: Airway hyper-reactivity; gastroesophageal reflux; methacholine test; spirometry