April 2018 Vol. 6 No.4

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Original Research Article

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Premature and Term Infants Examined Using Intraluminal Impedance and pH Monitoring

Anna Chiara Cigognini², Cătălin Boboc², Cristina Coldea^1,2, Anca Orzan^1,2, Mihaela Bălgrădean^1,2 and Felicia Galoș^1,2*

¹University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila Bucharest, Romania
²Maria Sklodowska Curie Children’s Emergency Hospital Bucharest, Romania

*Corresponding Author’s E-mail: felicia_galos@yahoo.com
Phone: 0040214604260
Fax: 0040214601260

Accepted April 19, 2018

Abstract

Preterm infants represent a population at high risk for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) development. To measure the frequency of GERD in former premature infants and to compare it with that of a general population of pediatric patients with signs and symptoms suggestive of GERD, in order to find an association between premature birth and risk of GERD. The study group consisted of 19 former premature patients who were referred to the physician and hospitalized for symptoms suggestive of GERD. The control group consisted of 24 patients with no history of prematurity and suspected of GERD, selected according to the order of hospital admission. All patients underwent a 24-hour multichannel intraluminal impedance combined with pH monitoring. Pathologic GER was more frequent in the study group (63,16%) than in the control group (62,5%). Prematurity didn’t increase the risk of GERD development (OR 1,02; CI 95% 0,2-3,5). The comparison between children categories revealed a slightly higher GERD frequency in former premature children (63,64%) compared to control children (61,54%). Also in this case, there was not a significant association between preterm birth and GERD development in children (OR 1,03; CI 95% 0,28-3,37). GERD was more common in control infants (63,6%) than in former premature infants (62,5%). There was a negative association between prematurity and GERD in this category of patients (OR 0,9; CI 95% 0,22-4,25). Our findings do not demonstrate a significant association between prematurity and GERD development during infancy and childhood. The topic warrants further investigation by future research.

Key words: Gastroesofageal reflux, Prematurity, Intraluminal impedance, pH monitoring