Can mild bronchospasm reduce gastroesophageal reflux?

During attacks of asthma, changes in the transdiaphragmatic pressure gradient may impair the antireflux barrier and provoke gastroesophageal reflux (GER). If GER triggers asthma and asthma causes GER, a vicious circle could arise with an increase in the severity of asthma symptoms. The aim of this investigation was to determine whether postprandial reflux in asthmatics with GER disease is increased during histamine-induced bronchospasm and also if theophylline increases GER during provoked episodes of bronchospasm. Ten patients with chronic asthma and pathologic GER were challenged with either histamine or saline in randomized order with and without their regular dose of oral slow-release theophylline. FEV1 was recorded at regular intervals during the hour of provocation, and acid reflux (pH less than 4) was monitored by antimony pH electrodes in the esophagus. GER was not more pronounced during the provoked bronchospasm period irrespective of theophylline treatment or not. It seems unlikely that mild bronchospasm provokes reflux in patients with asthma and GER. It would appear that mild bronchospasm is rather protective against gastroesophageal reflux.