[Esophageal scintigraphy and pH measurement in asthmatic adults suspected of having gastroesophageal reflux]

Abstract

Fifty-five adults with asthma were explored by gastroesophageal scintigraphy (GES) and pH monitoring (3 postprandial hours, 12 nocturnal hours). For their asthma, all patients received theophylline twice a day. Associated digestive symptomatology led to investigations for gastroesophageal reflux (GER). Twelve hours pH monitoring, the reference method, was validated in 13 normal volunteers. During 12 hr pH monitoring, 4 criteria were studied: number of GER, percentage of time at pH 4, number of GER longer than 5 min and longest GER. Acid reflux occurred in 69 p. 100 of cases. Three hours postprandial pH monitoring and GES showed a GER in 40 and 47.5 p. 100 of cases (p greater than 0.05). GES revealed pulmonary aspiration in almost a quarter of asthmatic adults. Detection of a 30 p. cent increment of nocturnal GER by long pH monitoring could explain that results may differ with various techniques. Pulmonary aspiration was more frequent after longer and deeper GER. The mean duration of GER was more than 9 min but it was not significantly different from GER without pulmonary aspiration. GES may be helpful after 12 h pH monitoring because it can prove pulmonary aspiration. Its association with long and intense GER at 12 h pH monitoring suggests definitive surgical treatment of GER in asthmatic patients.