Recent findings from University of Malaya, Faculty of Medicine highlight research in acid reflux disease
March 2nd, 2009
2009 MAR 2 -- New investigation results, 'Non-cardiac chest pain: prevalence of reflux disease and response to acid suppression in an Asian population,' are detailed in a study published in Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology. "Gastroesophageal reflux disease is thought to be the commonest cause of 'non-cardiac chest pain'. The use of proton-pump inhibitors resulting in improvement in the chest pain symptom would support this causal association," scientists in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia report.
"To determine the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in non-cardiac chest pain and the response of chest pain to proton-pump inhibitor therapy. Patients with recurrent angina-like chest pain and normal coronary angiogram were recruited. The frequency and severity of chest pain were recorded. All patients underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy and 48-h Bravo ambulatory pH monitoring before receiving rabeprazole 20 mg bd for 2 weeks. The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease was 66.7% (18/27). The improvement in chest pain score was significantly higher in reflux compared to non-reflux patients (p=0.006). The proportion of patients with complete or marked/moderate improvement in chest pain symptoms were significantly higher in patients with reflux (15/18, 83.3%) compared to those without (1/9, 11.1%) (p <0.001). The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients with 'non-cardiac chest pain' was high," wrote H. Mohd and colleagues, University of Malaya, Faculty of Medicine.
The researchers concluded: "The response to treatment with proton-pump inhibitors in patients with reflux disease, but not in those without, underlined the critical role of acid reflux in a subset of patients with 'non-cardiac chest pain'."
Mohd and colleagues published their study in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology (Non-cardiac chest pain: prevalence of reflux disease and response to acid suppression in an Asian population. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 2009;24(2):288-93).
For additional information, contact H. Mohd, University of Malaya, Divisions of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The publisher's contact information for the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology is: Springer, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA.
This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsRx.com.
