Gut Liver.  2017 Mar;11(2):232-236. 10.5009/gnl16150.

Gastroesophageal Reflux in Neurologically Impaired Children: What Are the Risk Factors?

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. joonsl96@yuhs.ac

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Neurologically impaired patients frequently suffer from gastrointestinal tract problems, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). In this study, we aimed to define the risk factors for GERD in neurologically impaired children.
METHODS
From May 2006 to March 2014, 101 neurologically impaired children who received 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring at Severance Children's Hospital were enrolled in the study. The esophageal pH finding and the clinical characteristics of the patients were analyzed.
RESULTS
The reflux index was higher in patients with abnormal electroencephalography (EEG) results than in those with normal EEG results (p=0.027). Mitochondrial disease was associated with a higher reflux index than were epileptic disorders or cerebral palsy (p=0.009). Patient gender, feeding method, scoliosis, tracheostomy, and baclofen use did not lead to statistical differences in reflux index. Age of onset of neurological impairment was inversely correlated with DeMeester score and reflux index. Age at the time of examination, the duration of the disease, and the number of antiepileptic drugs were not correlated with GER severity.
CONCLUSIONS
Early-onset neurological impairment, abnormal EEG results, and mitochondrial disease are risk factors for severe GERD.

Keyword

Gastroesophageal reflux; Esophageal pH monitoring; Child

MeSH Terms

Central Nervous System Diseases/*complications/diagnostic imaging
Cerebral Palsy/complications
Child, Preschool
Electroencephalography
Epilepsy/complications
Esophageal pH Monitoring
Female
Gastroesophageal Reflux/diagnosis/*etiology
Humans
Infant
Male
Mitochondrial Diseases/complications
Risk Factors
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