Nocturnal Exacerbations Research Articles

Clinical predictors of therapeutic failure of occipital nerve stimulation in refractory chronic cluster headache.

Occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) is a treatment with evidence in refractory chronic cluster headache (CCH). However, the variable response rate and cost make it necessary to investigate predictors of response. This is a cross-sectional study conducted through the review of medical records of CCH patients from six hospitals in Madrid. Epidemiological and clinical variables were compared between patients with ONS failure and the rest. ONS failure was defined as the need for device withdrawal or switch off because of lack of response or adverse events. From a series of 88 CCH, 26 (29.6%) underwent ONS surgery, of whom 13/26 (50.0%) failed because lack of response. ONS failure group had an earlier headache onset (mean ± SD) of 27.7 ± 6.9 vs. 36.7 ± 11.8 years, p = 0.026) and a higher smoking rate (100% vs. 42.9%, p = 0.006). Stational fluctuations (58.3% vs. 7.7%, p = 0.007) and nocturnal exacerbations (91.7% vs. 53.9%, p = 0.035) were more frequent in the ONS failure group as well. There was no difference between groups in diagnostic delay, years of evolution prior to surgery, mental illness, comorbidity with other headache disorders or chronic pain conditions or prior response to occipital nerves anesthetic blocks. Some clinical features such as an early debut, smoking and seasonal or circadian fluctuations could be related to failure of ONS in refractory CCH.

Retroperitoneal fibrosis - diagnosis and treatment.

Idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis (IRF) is a rare condition characterized by the development of a peri-aortic and peri-iliac tissue showing chronic inflammatory infiltrates and pronounced fibrosis. Ureteral entrapment with consequent obstructive uropathy is one of the most common complications which can lead to acute renal failure and, in the long term, to varying degrees of chronic kidney disease. Common symptoms at onset include lower back, abdominal or flank pain. Pain is frequently referred to the hip, to the groin and to the lateral regions of the leg, often with nocturnal exacerbations and not responding to position changes. The disease is commonly associated with signs of systemic inflammatory response (malaise, fever, and anorexia and weight loss). Glucocorticoids are considered the cornerstone of the therapy. The use of other immunosuppressive agents, including cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil and biological agents such as rituximab, tocilizumab and infliximab have been reported as a valuable option mostly in case reports, cases series and small studies. These agents allowed to reduce cumulative dose of glucocorticoids and their adverse effects. Combined therapy is preferable for all patients who suffer from significant glucocorticoid- related toxicity or in cases where glucocorticoids alone are insufficient to treat the condition.

Halotherapy-An Ancient Natural Ally in the Management of Asthma: A Comprehensive Review.

The increasing production of modern medication emerges as a new source of environmental pollution. The scientific community is interested in developing alternative, ecological therapies in asthma. Halotherapy proved its benefits in asthma diagnosis, treatment, and prevention and may represent a reliable therapeutic addition to the allopathic treatment, due to its ecological and environment-friendly nature, in order to prevent or prolong the time to exacerbations in patients with asthma. We aimed to review up-to-date research regarding halotherapy benefits in asthma comprehensively. We searched the electronic databases of PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE for studies that evaluated the exposure of asthmatic patients to halotherapy. Eighteen original articles on asthma were included. Five studies in adults and five in children assessed the performance of hypertonic saline bronchial challenges to diagnose asthma or vocal cord dysfunction in asthmatic patients. Three papers evaluated the beneficial effects of halotherapy on mucociliary clearance in asthmatic adults. The therapeutic effect of halotherapy on acute or chronic asthma was appraised in three studies in adults and one in children. The preventive role was documented in one paper reporting the ability of halotherapy to hinder nocturnal asthma exacerbations. All studies seem to sustain the overall positive effects of halotherapy as adjuvant therapy on asthma patients with no reported adverse events. Halotherapy is a crucial natural ally in asthma, but further evidence-based studies on larger populations are needed.

ADCY5-related dyskinesia with myoclonus-dystonia syndrome: Clues to diagnosis

ADCY5-related dyskinesia is a childhood-onset autosomal dominant disorder that is caused by gain-of-function mutations in the ADCY5 gene. The core clinical features include a varying combination of hyperkinetic movement disorders (chorea, athetosis, dystonia, or myoclonus), orofacial dyskinesia, nocturnal exacerbations of dyskinesias while falling asleep, and axial hypotonia. We report two patients diagnosed with ADCY5-related dyskinesia, with myoclonus-dystonia presentation, and elaborate the clinical clues for diagnosis.

Deep brain stimulation reduces (nocturnal) dyskinetic exacerbations in patients with ADCY5 mutation: a case series

Mutations in the ADCY5 gene can cause a complex hyperkinetic movement disorder. Episodic exacerbations of dyskinesia are a particularly disturbing symptom as they occur predominantly during night and interrupt sleep. We present the clinical short- and long-term effects of pallidal deep brain stimulation (DBS) in three patients with a confirmed pathogenic ADCY5 mutation. Patients were implanted with bilateral pallidal DBS at the age of 34, 20 and 13 years. Medical records were reviewed for clinical history. Pre- and postoperative video files were assessed using the “Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale” (AIMS) as well as the motor part of the “Burke Fahn Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale” (BFMDRS). All patients reported subjective general improvement ranging from 40 to 60%, especially the reduction of nocturnal episodic dyskinesias (80–90%). Objective scales revealed only a mild decrease of involuntary movements in all and reduced dystonia in one patient. DBS-induced effects were sustained up to 13 years after implantation. We demonstrate that treatment with pallidal DBS was effective in reducing nocturnal dyskinetic exacerbations in patients with ADCY5-related movement disorder, which was sustained over the long term.

Observation of the Improvement in Nocturnal Asthma Symptoms with Administration of Once Daily Sustained Released Theophylline

Objective: The aims and objective of this study to observe the improvement in Nocturnal Asthma symptoms and Quality of Life (QoL) with administration of once daily sustained release theophylline preparation.Background: Nocturnal symptoms are a common part of the asthma. Nocturnal asthma is defined by a drop in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) of at least 15% between bedtime and awakening in patients with clinical and physiologic evidence of asthma, which may include improvement in QoL.Methodology: The patient with Chronic Persistent Asthma, both sex, age >18 to 50 years of age and preferably patients with nocturnal exacerbations were included in the study. All patients were diagnosed on the basis of clinical history, physical examination, chest X-ray and pulmonary function tests, in accordance with the clinical criteria for the diagnosis by the GINA. The recruitment period was between March 2017 and August 2017 Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, Dhaka.Results: It was observed that 65(92.85%) was found exacerbation free night and 5(7.15%) patients were found exacerbation with sustained release Theophylline. There are significantly improved qualities of life between 1st follow up to 2nd follow up, 3rd follow up and 4th follow up p<0.001 which was statistically significant. Spirometry test was gradually improved between 1st visit of FEV1 to 2nd, 3rd and 4th visit of FEV1, (p<0.001) that was statistically significant.Conclusion: Most of the patients were found exacerbation free night. There are significantly improved quality of life between 1st follow up to 2nd follow up, 3rd follow up and 4th follow up in Spirometry test. The value of FEV1 was gradually improve in the lst visit, 2nd, 3rd and 4th visit with sustained release Theophylline.J Shaheed Suhrawardy Med Coll, December 2017, Vol.9(2); 74-77

The effectiveness of school-based family asthma educational programs on the quality of life and number of asthma exacerbations of children aged five to 18 years diagnosed with asthma: a systematic review protocol.

REVIEW QUESTION / OBJECTIVE The objective of this review is to identify the best available quantitative evidence related to the effectiveness of school-based family asthma educational programs on the quality of life and number of asthma exacerbations of children aged five to18 years with a diagnosis of asthma. INCLUSION CRITERIA Types of participants This review will consider studies that include children, five to 18 years of age, of any gender, race, or ethnicity with a clinical diagnosis of asthma, who has participated in school-based asthma education programs that include their caregivers. Studies that include children younger than age five and older than age 18, with respiratory diseases other than asthma, who have not participated in school-based asthma education programs that include their caregivers will be excluded. Types of intervention(s) This review will consider studies that evaluate the effectiveness of school-based family asthma education interventions on the quality of life and number of asthma exacerbations of children with asthma compared to absence of school-based family asthma education programs. Types of outcomes This review will consider studies that include the following outcome measures: primary outcomes of quality of life and asthma exacerbations, and secondary outcomes of absences from school or work, physical activity intolerance, and emergency hospital visits as a result of asthma exacerbations. Quality of life can be measured by a valid and reliable tool such as the Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire. The number of asthma exacerbations can be measured by valid and reliable tools such as the TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS

A Curious Case of Abdominal Pain Relieved by Aspirin

Question: A 33-year-old man presented with an 18 month history of moderate-to-severe abdominal pain, with nocturnal exacerbations. The pain was located in the left abdomen below umbilicus (Figure A) and had both continuous dull as well as an intermittent sharp component. Extensive workup done elsewhere failed to establish a diagnosis. The workup included a hemogram, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, liver and renal function tests, calcium profile, immunoglobulin A tissue transglutaminase, viral serologies (hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-hepatitis C, and HIV), antinuclear antibody, blood sugars, VDRL, plain radiographs of the chest/abdomen, ultrasonography of the abdomen, contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) of abdomen, barium meal follow-through, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, colonoscopy, blood lead levels, and urine porphobilinogen.

SP0040 The Immune/Inflammatory Response Follows Circadian Rhythms

Alternating sunlight and darkness regulate the cyclical 24-hour period of human biological activity, generally reported as “circadian rhythms” or referred as “chronobiology”, and biological signaling occur in a complex network...

Burning feet syndrome: An old tropical syndrome revisited

Background: Burning feet syndrome (BFS) has been described anecdotally in the literature for over 200 years. Described subjectively by patients as burning, prickling and unremitting with nocturnal exacerbations, the condition draws parallels with the burning dysaesthesia found in diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and appears to display a similar chronicity. Despite being a common symptom, especially among the elderly, its etiology in non-specific and often marked by a lack of objective clinical signs. Historically, burning feet syndrome has been recorded in situations of poor nutrition, including malnourished African populations in the early 20th century, South American plantation workers in the 1920s and during food shortages in the Spanish Civil War. Perhaps the best described and largest outbreak of burning feet occurred amongst prisoners of war (POWs) of the Japanese during the 2nd World War in South East Asia and the Far East. In this review we summarise reports of the condition, in particular amongst Far East POWs (FEPOWs), using both the available literature as well as a unique and previously unknown contemporary study carried out in a POW camp. Materials and Methods: During his stay in the Tandjung Priok POW camp, Nowell Peach recorded 54 cases of burning feet seen over a 4 month period during captivity. This data was concealed from his captors and survived to return home with him. Results: 54 prisoners presented over a 4 month period with a mean age of 28 years and mean duration of symptoms of 12 weeks. Neurological signs were meticulously documented. All were on an inadequate diet, 20 (38%) were on less than a full ration. Accompanying tropical infections were common including malaria (73%), dengue (45%) and dysentery (41%). Discussions: The Peach survey confirmed the frequency of burning feet amongst FEPOWs and was unusual in that the neurological examination and conditions endured were documented in captivity. A paucity of physical signs was noted, and a suggestion that burning feet could be precipitated by intercurrent infection. Conclusions: Burning feet syndrome can be regarding as an antique medical condition as chronic malnutrition becomes less common. This hidden study carried out during captivity provides remarkable new insight into the disease which is now essentially unknown to modern practitioners.

Development of a core outcome set for clinical trials in childhood asthma: a survey of clinicians, parents, and young people.

BackgroundIn clinical trials in childhood asthma, outcomes reflecting short-term disease activity are frequently measured, whilst functional status, quality of life (QoL), and long-term treatment effects are rarely assessed. There is also non-uniformity across studies in the selection and measurement of outcomes within these domains. The development of a core outcome set has the potential to reduce heterogeneity between trials, lead to research that is more likely to have measured relevant outcomes, and enhance the value of evidence synthesis by reducing the risk of outcome reporting bias and ensuring that all trials contribute usable information.MethodsPaediatricians and specialist nurses, identified through the British Paediatric Respiratory Society, completed a two-round Delphi survey. Separate cohorts of parents of children younger than 18 years, recruited in clinics, participated in each round. Young people with asthma, aged at least 13 years, participated in the first round. Outcomes were identified separately for preschool and school-aged children.We identified outcomes considered important in routine clinical assessment by clinicians and parents/young people. In round 1, 46 clinicians suggested outcomes they considered important when deciding whether to adjust a child’s asthma therapy regime, and 49 parents/young people were asked, using open questions, how they judged whether their child’s (for young people, their own) asthma therapy was appropriate. Two researchers independently classified responses into appropriate, corresponding outcomes.In round 2, 43 clinicians and 50 parents scored, from 0–4, the importance of each outcome suggested by at least 10 % of round 1 responders and selected the three most important.ResultsThe most important outcomes, when making shared decisions about regular therapies for school-aged and preschool children with asthma, were daytime and nocturnal symptoms, exacerbations, QoL, and mortality. Results from parents and clinicians were generally concordant, but parents placed more emphasis on long-term treatment effects.ConclusionsWe have developed a methodology to identify outcomes of most relevance to clinicians, parents, and young people when evaluating regularly administered therapies for asthma. Daytime and nocturnal symptoms, exacerbations, QoL, and mortality are particularly important outcomes that should be measured and reported in all clinical trials of regular therapies for children with asthma.

275 Efficacy of Omalizumab in the Treatment of Urticaria-Vasculitis Associated to Churg-Strauss Syndrome

BackgroundChurg-Strauss Syndrome (CCS) is a rare systemic necrotizing small vessel vasculitis associated with bronchial asthma, peripheral blood eosinophilia and eosinophilic lung infiltration. Skin changes compatible with vasculitis are present in about 75% of patients. Previous reports suggest that patients with CSS can be treated with anti-IgE (omalizumab) in addition to conventional therapy to achieve asthma control. Here we report the efficacy of a 6-month treatment with omalizumab in a patient with CSS characterized by severe asthma and urticarial vasculitis.MethodsA 44 year old Caucasian female with a 5 year history of severe asthma, chronic urticaria and mild eosinophilia (1100/μL) was evaluated for possible CSS. Total serum IgE was 662 KU/l with positive skin prick tests for dust mites. Bronchial asthma was not controlled and FEV1 was 60% despite treatment with budesonide (640 mcg/die) and formoterol (18 mcg/die). Diffuse and confluent urticarial rash occurred in the last 6 months before evaluation and responded neither to prednisone (10 mg/die) and rupatadin (10 mg/die) nor to immunosuppressive agents (cyclosporin 200 mg/die or azathioprin 100 mg/die). The patient was treated, as add-on therapy, with omalizumab (300 mg s.c. every 2 weeks) accordingly to total IgE and weight parameters reported in the drug information leaflet.ResultsAfter 6 months of treatment the patient reported a significant improvement in asthma control with 50% reduction of nocturnal awakenings and asthma exacerbations and a major FEV1 improvement (101% at 16 weeks and 103% at 24 weeks). Eosinophil count was reduced to 600/μL. A 75% reduction of oral prednisone was registered after 8 weeks of treatment. Importantly, urticarial lesions disappeared after the first injection of omalizumab. Omalizumab injections were well tolerated and no adverse event was recorded.ConclusionsThis case suggests that omalizumab can be beneficial and safe in patients affected by CSS with severe asthma and urticarial vasculitis. In addition to its effect on serum IgE, efficacy of omalizumab in CSS may be related to an inhibitory effect on blood eosinophilia.

Nocturnal asthma

The aim is to review pathophysiological mechanisms and treatment of nocturnal asthma. Physiologic changes accompanying sleep, as well as the nocturnal phase of circadian rhythms, may have an adverse effect on asthma control. Chronotherapeutic principles, which consider circadian variation in relevant biologic rhythms, may improve asthma outcomes. Administration of long-acting bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids which achieve maximum efficacy at night may improve nocturnal asthma. Comorbid conditions that may contribute to nocturnal asthma should be considered. The prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea is greater in a cohort of patients with severe asthma than in moderate asthma and in BMI and age matched nonasthmatic controls, suggesting a link between these diseases. A large trial concluded that esomeprazole did not improve asthma control even with comorbid acid reflux, questioning the importance of acid reflux in asthma. The role of polymorphisms of the β2-adrenergic receptor and their relationship with nocturnal asthma remain controversial. Sleep is a time of vulnerability to respiratory compromise, especially in asthma patients experiencing nocturnal exacerbations. This asthma phenotype is associated with poorer control, reduced sleep quality, daytime somnolence and increased morbidity and mortality. Nocturnal asthma is a common but under-recognized problem.

Hemoglobinúria paroxística noturna: da fisiopatologia ao tratamento

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare disorder, an acquired chronic hemolytic anemia, often associated with recurrent nocturnal exacerbations, recurrent infections, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and episodes of venous thrombosis. Its clinical course is highly variable. It frequently arises in association with bone marrow failure, particularly aplastic anemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. It is also an acquired thrombophilia, presenting with a variety of venous thrombosis, mainly manifested with intra-abdominal thrombosis, here the major cause of mortality. The triad of hemolytic anemia, pancytopenia, and thrombosis makes a truly unique clinical syndrome of PNH, which was reclassified from a purely acquired hemolytic anemia to a hematopoietic stem cell mutation defect of the phosphatidyl inositol glycanclass-A gene. This mutation results in an early block in the synthesis of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchors, responsible for binding membrane functional proteins. Among these proteins are the complement inhibitors, especially CD55 and CD59, that play a key role in protecting blood cells from complement cascade attack. Therefore, in PNH occurs an increased susceptibility of red cells to complement, and consequently, hemolysis. We here review PNH physiopathology, clinical course, and treatment options, especially eculizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks the activation of terminal complement at C5 and prevents formation of the terminal complement complex, the first effective drug therapy for PNH.

Acute Effects of Passive Smoking on Asthma in Childhood

Although evidence-based asthma guidelines report passive smoke exposure as one of the triggers of asthma symptoms and exacerbations, its prevelance is still high among children with asthma especially in those coming from low income families. Passive smoke exposure affects different aspects of asthma control not only diurnal and nocturnal symptoms and exacerbations but also rescue medication use and lung functions as well as bronchial hyperreactivity, school absenteeism and quality of life. Immediate effects of passive smoke exposure in all these asthma parameters seem to be additive to those of chronic exposure. Smoking cessation interventions therefore play a pivotal role for a better asthma control.

Fenótipos clínicos de asma grave

To characterize clinical phenotypes of severe asthma. A total of 111 patients were retrospectively evaluated at a specialized outpatient clinic. A systematic protocol for patient evaluation and follow-up was applied. Treatment compliance and control of the disease at the end of follow-up were defined by clinical and functional data. Patients who did not meet asthma control criteria after six months despite compliance with treatment and correct use of medication were characterized as treatment-resistant. Phenotypes were determined by factorial analysis and compared using various tests. At the end of follow-up, 88 patients were considered treatment compliant and 23 were considered noncompliant. Factorial analysis of the compliant patients identified four phenotypes: phenotype 1 (28 patients) comprised patients who were treatment-resistant, more often presenting nocturnal symptoms and exacerbations, as well as more often using rescue bronchodilators; phenotype 2 (48 patients) comprised patients with persistent airflow limitation, lower ratios of forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity at baseline, more advanced age and longer duration of symptoms; phenotype 3 (42 patients) comprised patients with allergic rhinosinusitis who were nonsmokers and presented predominantly reversible airflow obstruction; and phenotype 4 (15 patients) comprised cases with a history of aspirin intolerance to acetylsalicylic acid associated with near-fatal asthma. A significant number of patients with severe asthma are noncompliant with treatment. Although many patients with severe asthma have persistent airflow obstruction, the most relevant clinical phenotype comprises patients who are resistant to the typical treatment.

Abstracts

Abstracts

Effect of nasal continuous positive airway pressure in uncontrolled nocturnal asthmatic patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

The mechanisms of nocturnal asthma are intimately related to circadian rhythms, which influence inflammatory cells and mediators, hormone levels and cholinergic tone. Nocturnal airway narrowing in asthma is sometimes associated with sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). The aims of this study were to evaluate the association of nocturnal asthma and OSAS, and investigate the influence of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy to improve nighttime symptoms in asthmatic patients with OSAS. Forty-three asthmatic patients who had nocturnal symptoms in spite of the optimal medical treatment according to the Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines and associated with snoring were studied. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs), asthma nighttime symptom scores, and polysomnography were performed on all patients. We treated the patients with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) 15 (moderate-severe OSAS) (n=16) with CPAP during 2 months. After 2 months, PFT, asthma nighttime symptom scores were reperformed. There was no significant difference in PFT values before and after CPAP treatment in OSAS patients. Asthma nighttime symptom scores were improved significantly (P<0.05) after CPAP treatment. In conclusion, in some patients with nocturnal asthma, OSAS may be responsible disease for nocturnal symptoms. In this condition, CPAP improves nocturnal symptoms without amelioration in PFT abnormalities.

Sneezing, sniffling, scratching or snoring, what is worse for allergic children in Singapore

Rationale Allergic symptoms have a general tendency for nocturnal exacerbations. Nocturnal symptoms and awakenings are an important factor in disease specific quality of life assessments. We aimed to define the underlying risk factors for night time awakenings in allergic children in Singapore. Methods A prospective analysis of children referred for aeroallergen skin prick tests (SPTs) in the KK children's hospital outpatient clinic in Singapore, from March 2003 to Aug 2003. All patients were asked to complete a detailed questionnaire including environmental risk factors (smoking, pets, soft toys, etc.) and a combined allergy symptom score, modified from the rhinitis outcomes questionnaire (ROQ), with a maximal score of 52 points. We included in the analysis all patients with at least one positive SPT and a clinical diagnosis of allergic disease. Results 60 patients were included, 44(77%) males, 47(78%) Chinese, age mean 8.0 years (range 3 – 15 years). Patients were referred to the skin prick test with a diagnosis of one or more of: Allergic Rhinitis 38 (63%), Asthma 26 (43%) or Atopic Dermatitis 13 (22%). The median combined symptom score was 11 (Min 1, Max 36, 3rd quartile 18.5). There was no significant difference in the combined symptom score, between patient groups according to the referral diagnosis. Nocturnal awakenings were reported by 18 (36%) of patients, their presence correlated only with the skin specific symptom score and specifically with skin itching. Conclusions In a tropical climate, the presence of skin itch seems to be the most important predictive factor causing nocturnal awakenings in allergic children.

Asthmatics with gastroesophageal reflux: long term results of a randomized trial of medical and surgical antireflux therapies

Objective In short term studies, asthma symptoms and pulmonary function have been reported to improve during and after medical treatment or surgical correction of gastroesophageal reflux (GER). In this study, we aimed to determine whether prolonged treatment of GER altered the long term natural history of asthma in asthmatics with GER. Methods A total of 62 patients with both GER and asthma entered a randomized study of antireflux treatments for at least 2 yr: 24 controls (antacids as needed); 22 medical (ranitidine 150 mg t.i.d.); and 16 surgical (Nissen fundoplication). Asthma was defined as a previous diagnosis of asthma with discrete attacks of wheezing and 20% reversibility in airway disease. GER was defined as an abnormal ambulatory 24-h esophageal pH test and macroscopic or microscopic evidence of GER disease. Overall clinical status, asthma symptom scores, and pulmonary medication requirements were recorded monthly. Peak expiratory flow rates were recorded up to seven times per day for 1 wk of each month throughout the years. Pulmonary function, esophageal manometry, and endoscopy with biopsy were repeated yearly. Results The 62 patients were followed for up to 19.1 yr. In the surgical group, but not in the medical or control groups, there was an immediate and sustained reduction in acute nocturnal exacerbations of wheezing, coughing, and dyspnea. By the end of 2 yr, improvement, marked improvement, or cure in the overall asthma status occurred in 74.9% of the surgical group, 9.1% of the medical group and 4.2% of the control group, whereas the overall status worsened in 47.8% of the control group, 36.4% of the medical group, and 12.5% of the surgical group ( p < 0.001, surgical vs medical and control). The mean asthma symptom score of the surgical group improved 43%, compared with less than 10% in the medical and control groups ( p = 0.0009). As determined by changes in peak expiratory flow rates, there was no statistically significant difference in pulmonary function during the 2-yr period or during regularly scheduled follow-up. There was no difference in medication requirements among the groups. There was no difference between the groups in overall survival. Conclusion In patients with both GER and asthma, antireflux surgery (but not medical therapy with ranitidine 150 mg t.i.d.) has minimal effect on pulmonary function, pulmonary medication requirements, or survival, but significantly improves asthma symptoms and overall clinical status.