Histamine bronchoprovocation tests in subjects with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

The relationship of gastro oesophageal reflux (GER) with bronchial asthma has already been well documented in asthmatic subjects and it has been postulated that their asthma might have been caused by GER disease. Thus, it was planned to establish an association, if any, between GER and increased bronchial reactivity by histamine broncho provocation. The study was done in 25 GER disease patients and 15 controls. The difference in bronchial reactivity between the two groups was found to be significant (p less than 0.01). It was concluded that GER subjects expressed greater bronchial reactivity and it has been discussed that at a later stage of life they may be more prone to develop asthma.