Spirometry in Older Children with Persistent Asthma And Gastroesophageal Reflux: Before And after Antireflux Treatment

To assess pulmonary functions using spirometry in children with moderate-persistent asthma and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) before and 12 months after anti-GERD treatment. Sixty-two children (6–11 years old) with moderate-persistent asthma and no risk factors underwent extended esophageal pH monitoring. Forty-four children had abnormal studies suggesting GERD. Of these 44 children, 32 underwent medical (group A) and 12 underwent surgical (group B) anti-GERD treatment respectively. The remaining 18 patients with normal pH probe studies served as controls (group C). Spirometry was performed before and 1 year after anti-GERD treatment. Overall, despite clinical improvement in their asthma, there was no significant change in the pretreatment and posttreatment forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV₁) or forced expiratory flow, midexpiratory phase (FEF_25%–75%) in any group. One year of anti-GERD treatment in children with moderate-persistent asthma and GERD does not result in consistent improvement in spirometry findings despite improvement in clinical status. (Pediatr Asthma Allergy Immunol 2007; 20[1]:6–10.)