GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX IN CHILDREN - COMPARISON OF DIFFERENT DURATIONS, POSITIONS AND SLEEP-AWAKE PERIODS OF PH MONITORING IN THE SAME PATIENT

A group of 72 children (mean age: 21.7 months, range: 14 days-19 years ) with symptoms of gastrooesophageal reflux were investigated by 22 h pH monitoring. Using a Proxeda software, we compared, in the same pati ent, the specificity and sensitivity of pH monitoring during 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 12 nocturnal hours and 3 postprandial hours, as well as the inf luence of position and the sleep and alert periods. Results showed tha t all the short pH monitorings were statistically less sensitive than 22 h pH monitoring (P < 0.025). As regards specificity, only the 12 no cturnal hours pH monitoring was not statistically different from the 2 2 h pH monitoring. Gastro-oesophageal reflux was more frequent when th e patient was awake than during sleep. pH monitoring seemed more relia ble in the recumbent than in the upright position. We conclude that lo ng-term pH monitoring (22 h) is the test of choice to diagnose gastro- oesophageal reflux because it included sleep and alert periods as well as different positions.