PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - K. Blondeau
AU  - V. Mertens
AU  - B. A. Vanaudenaerde
AU  - G. M. Verleden
AU  - D. E. Van Raemdonck
AU  - D. Sifrim
AU  - L. J. Dupont
TI  - Gastro-oesophageal reflux and gastric aspiration in lung transplant patients with or without chronic rejection
AID  - 10.1183/09031936.00064807
DP  - 2008 Apr 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - 707--713
VI  - 31
IP  - 4
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/31/4/707.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/31/4/707.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2008 Apr 01; 31
AB  - Acid gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) and gastric aspiration have been labelled as risk factors for chronic rejection bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) after lung transplantation (LTx). The present study aimed to further characterise GOR (both acid and nonacid) and the degree of gastric aspiration in LTx recipients both with and without BOS. Impedance-pH recordings were used for GOR detection. Pepsin and bile acid levels were measured in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). A total of 48% of patients had increased GOR, of which 27% had exclusively increased nonacid reflux. Cystic fibrosis patients had the highest prevalence of GOR. Pepsin was found in BALF of all patients and bile acids in BALF of 50% of the patients. Patients with BOS had neither increased GOR nor elevated pepsin in BALF. However, 70% of the patients with BOS had bile in BALF compared with 31% of stable patients. Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment reduced acid reflux but did not affect nonacid reflux. Moreover, pepsin and bile levels in BALF were not reduced by PPI. One-half of the lung transplant patients had increased reflux, and nonacid reflux was common. Gastric aspiration occurred in most lung transplant patients. Pepsin was a more general marker and bile acids a more specific marker that might be associated with bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. Proton pump inhibitor treatment did not prevent nonacid reflux and gastric aspiration.