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Gut 61:1670-1677 doi:10.1136/gutjnl-2011-300926
  • Original articles
    • Oesophagus

Effect of azithromycin on acid reflux, hiatus hernia and proximal acid pocket in the postprandial period

  1. G E Boeckxstaens1,4
  1. 1Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  2. 2Department of Nuclear Medicine, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  3. 3Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  4. 4Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital of Leuven and Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
  1. Correspondence to Professor Dr G E Boeckxstaens, Translational Research Center for Gastrointestinal Disorders (TARGID), University Hospital Leuven, Catholic University Leuven, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; guy.boeckxstaens{at}med.kuleuven.be

  1. Contributors The study was conceived by the first and last author (WOR and GEB). Two authors (WOR and AAR) gathered and analysed the data, the latter in cooperation with AHZ. The first and last author wrote the final versions of the manuscript, and decided in consultation with the other authors to submit the paper for publication. All authors substantially contributed to the design of the study, interpretation of the data and the writing of the manuscript. All authors vouch for the completeness and accuracy of the data.

  • Revised 20 December 2011
  • Accepted 23 December 2011
  • Published Online First 20 January 2012

Abstract

Background The risk for acidic reflux is mainly determined by the position of the gastric acid pocket. It was hypothesised that compounds affecting proximal stomach tone might reduce gastro-oesophageal reflux by changing the acid pocket position.

Objective To study the effect of azithromycin (Azi) on acid pocket position and acid exposure in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD).

Methods Nineteen patients with GORD were included, of whom seven had a large hiatal hernia (≥3 cm) (L-HH) and 12 had a small or no hiatal hernia (S-HH). Patients were randomised to Azi 250 mg/day or placebo during 3 days in a crossover manner. On each study day, reflux episodes were detected using concurrent high-resolution manometry and pH-impedance monitoring after a standardised meal. The acid pocket was visualised using scintigraphy, and its position was determined relative to the diaphragm.

Results Azi reduced the number of acid reflux events (placebo 8.0±2.2 vs Azi 5.6±1.8, p<0.01) and postprandial acid exposure (placebo 10.5±3.8% vs Azi 5.9±2.5%, p<0.05) in all patients without affecting the total number of reflux episodes. Acid reflux occurred mainly when the acid pocket was located above, or at the level of, the diaphragm, rather than below the diaphragm. Treatment with Azi reduced hiatal hernia size and resulted in a more distal position of the acid pocket compared with placebo (below the diaphragm 39% vs 29%, p=0.03). Azi reduced the rate of acid reflux episodes in patients with S-HH (38% to 17%) to a greater extent than in patients with L-HH (69% to 62%, p=0.04).

Conclusion Azi reduces acid reflux episodes and oesophageal acid exposure. This effect was associated with a smaller hiatal hernia size and a more distal position of the acid pocket, further indicating the importance of the acid pocket in the pathogenesis of GORD.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests None.

  • Ethics approval Ethics approval was provided by medical ethics committee of the Academic Medical Center.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.