The role of proton-pump inhibitor therapy in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease and difficult-to-control asthma.

Difficult-to-control asthma is a frustratingly difficult condition to treat. Many factors contribute to this condition, including gastroesophageal reflux disease. Response to potent acid suppressive therapy with proton-pump inhibitors is less than universal or complete, and underlines the multifactorial nature of the disease. However, the authors of this paper feel strongly that, whereas gastroesophageal reflux disease can be reliably identified, patients with difficult-to-control asthma will experience an improvement in symptoms when treated with acid-suppressive therapy, while bearing in mind that other contributory factors may have to be eliminated at the same time.