GASTROENTEROLOGY ARTICLE OF THE WEEK
June 20, 2002
Peterson K, Samuelson W. Role of endoscopy is asthma. Clinical Update, ASGE 2002;9(4):1-4.
1. Endoscopy in patients with asthma
a. is rarely indicated as erosive disease is rare
b. biopsy of normal esophageal mucosa should be obtained to confirm the
presence of esophagitis
c. absence of esophagitis indicates that reflux is playing no role in the severity of
the asthma
d. esophageal manometry and pH study of the esophagus is rarely useful.
True or False
2. When gastroesophageal reflux causes bronchospasm, this is always mediated by microaspiration
3. Symptoms of GER may be absent in 24% to 50% of asthmatics with documented reflux.
4. Esophagitis and Barrett’s esophagus are less common in asthmatics compared to the general population.
5. The presence of proximal acid reflux and a history of regurgitation correlates with improvement in asthma once reflux is treated.
6. While doing a pH study in asthmatics, the occurrence of asthma symptoms within 5 minutes after a reflux episode should be considered related to reflux.
7. Impedance technology may identify individuals with asthma symptoms that do not respond to acid suppression but are aggravated by microsaspiraton of non-acidic refluxate.