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Annals of Clinical & Laboratory Science 34:94-98 (2004)
© 2004 Association of Clinical Scientists

Prevalence of Bronchial Asthma in Patients with Endoscopically-Documented Esophagitis

G. Riccioni1, R. Della Vecchia2, V. Menna1, C. Di Ilio1, P. Conti3 and N. D’Orazio1
1 Human Nutrition Division, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University "G. D’Annunzio," Chieti;
2 Respiratory Pathophysiology Center, Department of Internal Medicine, "SS. Annunziata" Hospital, Chieti;
3 Immunology Division, Department of Oncology and Neuroscience, University "G. D’Annunzio," Chieti, Italy

Address correspondence to Graziano Riccioni, M.D., Via F. Ferri 90, 66100 Chieti, Italy; tel 39 333 636 6661; fax 39 0871 355 6705; e-mail griccioni{at}hotmail.com.

The association of gastroesophageal reflux, esophagitis, and asthma has been studied for a long time, but the results are often conflicting. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of bronchial asthma and the presence of extra-esophageal symptoms in subjects with endoscopically-documented reflux esophagitis. Forty patients were divided into 2 groups: group A (22 patients) affected by endoscopically-documented esophagitis, and group B (18 patients) with positive endoscopic examination for other pathologies of the gastroenteric tract. All of the patients underwent complete medical examination, skin-prick tests, esophageal-gastric-endoscopy, and pulmonary function tests (basal and after methacholine). The prevalence of asthma was 30% in group A vs 10% in group B (odds ratio = 2.57; confidence interval = 0.75–10.25). Relationships between chronic cough and esophagitis (p < 0.01) and between chronic cough and asthma (p<0.05) were found. No significant relationships were observed between esophagitis and the other respiratory symptoms considered (wheezing, chest tightness, hoarseness, bronchospasm, and dysphagia). The results confirm the increased prevalence of asthma in patients with esophagitis and they emphasize the role of gastroesophageal reflux as a trigger factor for asthma. Chronic cough represents an important symptom of asthma in subjects with esophagitis.

Keywords: bronchial asthma, reflux esophagitis, cough, gastroesophageal reflux disease




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[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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