A terrific recent retrospective study (LB Mahoney, S Nurko, R Rosen. J Pediatr 2017; 189: 86-91) examined how often children with reflux symptoms actually have reflux.

This study reviewed 45 children ≥5 years (mean age 11.8 years) who had undergone both upper endoscopy and impedance pH study (off PPI therapy). Inclusion criteria: no erosive esophagitis. Common symptoms included heartburn, abdominal pain, chest pain, and regurgitation.

Definitions:

• Nonerosive reflux disease –had abnormal esophageal acid exposure
• Reflux hypersensitivity -had normal acid exposure but had a positive symptom association to acid or nonacid reflux
• Functional heartburn -had normal acid exposure and negative symptom association

Key findings:

• 44% had functional heartburn, 29% with reflux hypersensitivity (27% acid, 2% nonacid), 27% had nonerosive reflux disease (NERD)
• Response to a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) was not predictive of reflux phenotype: 58% with NERD, 67% with reflux hypersensitivity, and 55% with functional heartburn. Response to PPI was stated as “at least some symptomatic improvement with PPI use.”  There was not a difference in PPI response among those who received a dose <1 mg/kg and those ≥1 mg/kg.
• Microscopic esophagitis was present in 17% in NERD, 25% with reflux hypersensitivity, and in 20% of functional heartburn

While this study has limitations, including referral bias, it is likely that these patients are typical for many pediatric gastroenterologists. The authors note that typical patients were “patients who underwent a PPI trial but continued to have persistent symptoms.”

My take: In a pediatric gastroenterology setting, the most common reason for “reflux” is actually functional heartburn.  Thus, in those with persistent symptoms, evaluation with endoscopy and pH probe is worthwhile, especially as there has been more attention to potential risks of PPI therapy.

Related blog posts:

• Better to do a coin toss than an ENT exam to determine reflux
• PPI Webinar NAPSPGHAN
• Treating reflux does not help asthma | gutsandgrowth
• Salivary Pepsin Doesn’t Pass Muster for Reflux
• Does Reflux Lead to Increased Aspiration Pneumonia? | gutsandgrowth
• How Likely is Reflux in Infants with “Reflux-like … – gutsandgrowth
• No Effect of Proton Pump Inhibitors and Irritability on … – gutsandgrowth
• pH Testing; Rumors of My Death are Premature
• The prosecution rests…PPIs on trial  gutsandgrowth
• PPI Side Effects: “Dissecting the Evidence” | gutsandgrowth
• Do medicines work for GERD infants? | gutsandgrowth
• Failure of PPI test | gutsandgrowth
• One for the PPI team | gutsandgrowth

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