[INTRODUCTION - Gastroesophageal reflux is known to cause chronic cough and it is also implicated in worsening of asthma. We conducted a prospective study to examine the clinical significance of gastroesophageal reflux disease in asthmatic patients with chronic cough, to analyse the temporal relationship between reflux events and coughing and to assess the effect of esomeprazole treatment on respiratory symptoms and lung function in these patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS - 126 asthmatic patients with chronic dry cough were studied. Diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease was based on typical symptoms and the effectiveness of therapeutic test or on pH monitoring, while control group consisted of the patients without gastroesophageal reflux (negative pH results). The study group patients received the proton pump inhibitor esomeprazole (40 mg/day for three months) and standard treatment for asthma was continued. During the study pulmonary function tests (forced expiratory volume in one second and peak expiratory flow) were evaluated four times and the reflux symptom scores as well, using a questionnaire. RESULTS - The results of pH monitoring showed that 64% of cough episodes were related to acid reflux and in 91% of reflux events preceded coughing. Esomeprazole treatment (40 mg/day for three months) not only diminished gastroesophageal reflux symptoms but also improved asthma outcome measures. Baseline pulmonary function values increased significantly together with a decrease in symptom scores and the use of rescue medication. In most patients included in the extended part of the study for another three months, the dose of inhaled steroids could be reduced with sustained therapy against gastroesophageal reflux. CONCLUSION - Our data shows that reflux events preceded coughing in most cases and that treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease caused an improvement in different outcome measures of asthma suggest that gastroesophageal reflux disease worsens asthma and its treatment is of clinical importance in the effective management of these patients.]

[INTRODUCTION - Recent studies have shown a potential relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease and daytime sleepiness. The increased sleepiness is one of the symptoms due to decreased daytime performance caused by the breathing difficulties during sleep. The aim of this study was to analyse the potential relationship between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and daytime somnolence. PATIENTS AND METHODS - The Epworth Sleepiness Scale was used to assess daytime somnolence for 134 patients undergoing upper panendoscopy and it was correlated to the severity of the endoscopic findings, according to the Savary-Miller classification. Data was analysed witf multivariant linear and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS - A positive tendency was found between reflux disease and daytime somnolence along with the severity of GERD. In the case of the more severe type - Savary-Miller III - the increase of daytime somnolence was significantly higher (p<0,05), than in the case of nonerosive type wich represents the mildest degree of reflux disease. CONCLUSION - According to the results of the study the more severe forms of GERD can influence the effect on daytime somnolence.]

[There is growing interest in the gastroenterology literature towards gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) these days. The prevalence of the disease is much higher than estimated earlier and it frequently appears in atypical forms. Literature data suggests that 30-40% of the individuals suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease. A broad spectrum of presentation of gastroesophageal reflux disease exists, e.g. noncardiac chest-pain, ear-nose-throat symptoms, pulmonary symptoms, dental erosions, chronic cough and hiccups. Atypical forms often cause diagnostic and treatment difficulties. Authors analyze the frequency, morbidity and the pathomechanism of the extraesophageal manifestations, based on self-experience. The main goal of the review is to help to establish the diagnosis of GERD, to recognize its atypical signs and to outline the diagnostic steps to be taken. Most up-to-date treatment strategies are also presented. By the demonstration of interesting cases, authors emphasize the diagnostic importance of intragastric pH-monitoring.]

[Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most widely used drugs worldwide. Gastroduodenal ulcers are found at endoscopy in 15 to 30% of patients who use NSAIDs regularly. The annual incidence of severe upper gastrointestinal complications such as bleeding or perforation is 1.0 to 1.5%. From a cost-benefit perspective, prevention strategies should consider both gastrointestinal, and recently, cardiovascular risk factors. No prophylaxis is necessary with low gastrointestinal risk. There are currently four possible strategies to reduce the risk of adverse gastrointestinal effects: 1. the use of selective COX-2 inhibitors or coxibs rather than traditional NSAIDs; 2. cotherapy, primarily with proton pump inhibitors, to ensure protection to gastric mucous membrane; 3. co-therapy with a coxib and a proton pump inhibitor in patients with very high risk (eg., history of bleeding); 4. eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with a history of ulcer. The use of coxibs decrease the risk of gastrointestinal damage by roughly 50%. In the presence of gastrointestinal risk factors or for patients on aspirin also treated with an NSAID or a coxib, protection with a proton pump inhibitor is recommended. Proton pump inhibitor therapy is also useful for the prevention and treatment of NSAID-induced dyspepsia. The beneficial effects of proton pump inhibitors cannot solely be explained by their profound antisecretory action. Therefore, several acid secretion- independent mechanisms of action have been proposed.]

[Medical treatment of gastrointestinal diseases has developed dramatically in the past 10 years. However, management of gastrointestinal disorders in pregnancy is still a serious challenge and requires special expertise. This paper provides recommendations on the indications of gastrointestinal endoscopy and treatment options based on the best available evidence, primarily from large retrospective studies and case reports. Currently there are no generally applicable, widely accepted, evidence-based guidelines available on the treatment of pregnant women. The risks of the gastrointestinal disease versus those of the medications used to treat it should be considered with regard to the health of both the mother and the foetus in each individual case. The risks and benefits of treatment and the consequences of withholding treatment should be discussed with the patient, the obstetrician and any other clinicians involved, and should be carefully documented.]