[Gastroesophageal reflux in patients with chronic nonspecific lung diseases]

The author examined 30 patients with clinical symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux. The patients suffered of bronchial asthma (19) and chronic obstructive bronchitis (11). Intraesophageal and intragastric proteolysis with subsequent digestion of the protein substrate in solutions with different concentration of hydrogen ions (pH 1.68 and 8.15). Gastroesophageal reflux was observed in 25 and duodenogastroesophageal in 16 patients. The gastric and duodenal contents reached the upper portions of the esophagus in 14 of the 30 patients. The obtained findings indicate frequent effects of proteases on the bronchi.