- Heartburn treatment and asthma symptoms
The article:
Gibson PG, Henry RL, Coughlan JL. Gastro-oesophageal reflux treatment for asthma in adults and children (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 1, 2001. Oxford: Update Software.
The problem:
Many asthmatics also suffer from gastroesophageal reflux, or heartburn, when they experience asthma symptoms. Previous studies disagree on whether or not heartburn is an asthma trigger. However, researchers have also considered the question of whether treatment for gastroesophageal reflux could alleviate asthma symptoms.
The study:
The Airways Group of the Cochrane Collaboration reviewed all the clinical trials that investigated the treatment of heartburn in asthmatic adults and children of various ages who also suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD). All the patients continued with their regular course of asthma treatment. Various types of heartburn treatments such as behavior modification (e.g., drinking warm water after meals), medical (proton pump inhibitors and histamine antagonists ) and surgical interventions were studied. Measuring outcomes such as patients’‘ lung function and the required use of rescue medicine were used to assess the effect of the GORD treatment on asthma.
The result:
Nine clinical trials investigated the treatment of GORD on asthma in 328 patients.
Seven of the nine trials reported at least one significant outcome. The studies showed that treatment for gastroesophageal reflux in asthma patients did not improve lung function, asthma symptoms, nocturnal asthma or the use of asthma medications. However, there was no consistency in these effects. Not all the trials examined the same issues and outcomes, such as how the heartburn was treated, or how many trips to the hospital to treat asthma were necessary during the course of the study.
The conclusion:
The researchers concluded that the treatment of GORD in addition to regular asthma therapy provides no additional control of asthma symptoms. They suggest that further large-scale studies of adequate duration that use consistent measures need to be done to get a more definite answer.
- Immunotherapy for Asthma
The article:
Abramson, MJ, Puy, RM, Weiner, JM, Allergen immunotherapy for asthma (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 1, 2001.
The problem:
For decades allergen immunotherapy has been a controversial treatment for asthma. It is also known as hyposensitisation or desensitisation, because it seeks to make the body less sensitive to the allergen causing the reaction of the body, having the potential to reduce asthma severity. Because immunotherapy can lead to severe allergic reactions (also known as anaphylaxis) it is essential to know if there is support for its use from research.
The study:
The authors of this article looked at fifty-four clinical trials that assessed allergen immunotherapy. They chose only trials that used mites, pollen, animal dander, mould (Cladosporium mould), or multiple allergens for the immunotherapy. The effectiveness of the treatment was judged by looking at asthma symptoms, the severity of asthma and the amount of medication used by patients after the injections.
The result:
The results from the clinical trials were somewhat different from each other. The authors did observe, nevertheless, a trend in the reduction of asthma symptoms and the use of asthma medication after allergen immunotherapy. People receiving allergen immunotherapy were less likely to report a worsening of asthma symptoms and to require asthma medication than those given a placebo. In some cases allergen immunotherapy reduced allergen specific bronchial hyper-reactivity. However, the effect on lung function was not consistent.
The conclusion:
Allergen immunotherapy can reduce asthma symptoms and use of asthma medication. This benefit, however, has not yet been weighed against other asthma treatments and therapies. The possibility of severe adverse effects must still be taken into consideration when making a decision to use this therapy.
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This site is intended for people who have been prescribed Symbicort. The information is provided for educational and informational purposes only. For specific questions relating to your own asthma you should talk to your doctor.
