RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The association among asthma, hiatus hernia, oesophagitis and gastro-oesophageal reflux has been reported as etiologic factor that alters the clinical evolution of the asthma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective, longitudinal and comparative study was developed. 90 patients were incoming with persistent light and moderate asthma, of allergic etiology. By the 6 months of immune-allergic treatment the clinical answer was valued being classified in two groups: Group A: 40 patients with intermittent light asthma and group B: 50 patients with persistent severe moderate asthma. In both groups they were submitted to an endoscopy for the diagnosis of esophageal pathology, with biopsies in the 3 esophageal thirds. They registered symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux. RESULTS: 72 women and 28 men, age average 35.9 years. There was hiatus hernia in 33 patients, 12 of the group A and 21 of the B. Upper oesophagitis in 21 patients, 8 of the group A and 13 of the B. Symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux in 71 patients, 29 of the group A and 42 of the B. The association among hiatus hernia, oesophagitis and gastro-oesophageal reflux was observed in 12 patients, 2 of the group A and 10 of the B (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The association of symptoms among gastro-oesophageal reflux, hiatus hernia and upper oesophagitis, is bigger in the patients with bad answer to the anti-asthmatic treatment; they are justified to endoscopy study and biopsies of the upper oesophagus (in the group of patients with bad response and symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux) when 24 hours pH-monitoring is not available.