Gastroesophageal Reflux Associated with Respiratory Abnormalities During Sleep

Abstract

Summary: To determine whether gastroesophageal reflux (GER) might be a factor in the pathogenesis of apnea in certain infants, we analyzed the frequency of prolonged central apnea (>15 s) and of numerous irregularly repeated short apneas (5-15 s) (“respiratory dysfunction”) in infants with an apparent life-threatening event (ALTE) (group 1, n = 62), in control infants (group 2, n = 387), and in infants with GER pathologic findings (group 3, n = 60). Finally, the incidence of GER was analyzed in 76 infants with a respiratory dysfunction during sleep (group 4). Gastroesophageal reflux was investigated using 24-h esophageal pH monitoring; respiration during sleep was investigated by polysomnography. The pH monitoring data and results of sleep investigation were analyzed in a double-blind study. A great number of infants who had an ALTE appeared to suffer from GER (42%, 26 of 62 infants), especially if the ALTE occurred while the infant was awake (52%, 14 of 27 infants). In the control infants, pH monitoring data were abnormal in 8.5%; respiratory dysfunction was observed in 5%. In those with a respiratory dysfunction, GER was detected in 75% (15 of 20 infants). In those with GER, respiratory dysfunction was observed in 45% (15 of 33 infants). In groups 3 and 4, respiratory dysfunction was associated with abnormal pH data in 40-43%. If, in the infants with a respiratory dysfunction, the GER pathologic symptoms were treated efficiently (normalization of pH data), respiratory dysfunction disappeared in 92%. If GER was resistant to therapy, respiratory dysfunction persisted in 81% (13 of 16 infants). Results failed to show any causal relationship between prolonged apnea and GER. We conclude that GER in infancy is often associated with a typical breathing pattern during sleep characterized by multiple irregularly repeated short apneas. The recognition of this breathing pattern in (control) infants screened for risk of sudden infant death syndrome should result in GER investigations. We recommend studying GER in all infants with an ALTE.