Lansoprazole 'ineffective in asthma treatment for children'

Lansoprazole, which is commonly used to suppress the production of stomach acid, has been found to be ineffective when used to control asthma in children who show no signs of acid reflux.

A new study, conducted by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health in America, added to previous NHLBI/ALA-funded trial in 2009 that found Lansoprazole did not improve asthma control in adults.

The test studied 306 children and teenagers of various ethnicities aged 6-17 years across the US. 40 per cent of tested participants had acid reflux, and each of the participants took a daily dose of lansoprazole or an inactive placebo pill along with their regular steroid medication.

The test was conducted over 24 weeks, by which time, no significant differences were found in the asthma symptoms, overall lung function, or asthma-related quality of life between the lansoprazole and placebo treatment groups.

Susan B. Shurin, M.D., acting director of the NHLBI and a board-certified paediatrician, commented: "Doctors have suspected that acid reflux that does not cause symptoms interferes with asthma control and should be treated. This study shows that acid reflux medication should not be given to children for possible silent reflux in hopes of improving asthma control."

There are an estimated 5.1 million asthma sufferers in the UK, and the number has been found to be increasing. There are over 2,000 annual asthma fatalities.

Posted by Ben Evans