Gastroesophageal Reflux and Bronchial Responsiveness: Correlation and the Effect of Fundoplication

Background: A causal relationship between gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and asthma has been suggested. Should this be the case, one could expect treatment of GER to diminish bronchial sensitivity. There has been a lack of trials evaluating the efficacy of antireflux surgery on airway reactivity.

Objectives: To investigate the correlation between GER and bronchial responsiveness, and to determine the efficacy of Nissen fundoplication on bronchial responsiveness and pulmonary function.

Methods: A methacholine inhalation challenge was performed on 15 consecutive GER patients preoperatively and approximately 5 months after Nissen fundoplication. Airway responsiveness was quantified with a dose-response slope (DRS), calculated by dividing the decrease in FEV(1) (%) with the dose of methacholine administered (micromoles).

Results: A positive correlation between the severity of distal esophageal reflux and bronchial responsiveness was found (r = 0.83, p < 0.001). There was an improvement in FEV(1) after fundoplication (p = 0.03). All 3 asthmatic patients participating in the study presented with bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) which improved clearly in all of these patients after fundoplication. This resulted in an apparent trend for DRS to improve when the entire study population was considered (p = 0.12).

Conclusions: According to the current study there seems to be a positive correlation between the severity of distal esophageal reflux and bronchial responsiveness. These data suggest that operative treatment of GER may ameliorate BHR in asthmatic patients. Moreover, the results of the present study suggest that fundoplication may improve pulmonary function in patients with GER.