Very short gastroesophageal acid reflux during the upright position could be associated with asthma in children

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is diagnosed by the reflux index of 24-hour pH monitoring (pH monitoring). In our previous study, GER episodes during the upright position were more frequent than those during the supine position in asthmatic children. In this study, we investigated the clinical usefulness of the mean hourly number of acid refluxes, designated as the mean number of acid refluxes/hour (h) during the upright position in addition to the pH index for the diagnosis of GERD.

The subjects were 22 preschool asthmatic children. When the reflux index was over 4% or the mean number of acid refluxes/h during the upright position were three times more frequent than those during the supine position even if the reflux index was below 4%, we prescribed famotidine. Children whose asthmatic symptoms improved with famotidine were included in a GERD group. Children who did not meet the criteria by pH monitoring were included in a non-GERD group in asthmatic children.

The GERD group was comprised of 9 children. In 2 out of 9 GERD group children, the reflux index was below 4%. The median of the mean number of acid refluxes/h during the upright position was 12.9 in the GERD group, and 3.15 in the non-GERD group. The mean number of acid refluxes/h during the upright position were associated with asthmatic symptoms (p < 0.05).

Reflux during the upright position was associated with asthmatic symptoms. The mean number of acid refluxes/h during the upright position in addition to the reflux index could be useful in the diagnosis of GERD when associated with asthma.