Baclofen for GERD in Children?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a motility disorder caused by transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation (TLESR). Medications that reduce gastric acid secretion are effective treatments for GERD, but no prokinetic agents that might improve GI motility are available in the U.S. Baclofen is a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor agonist that has been shown to reduce TLESR in adults. In this study, researchers in Australia examined the effect of baclofen in 30 children (mean age, 10 years), each with severe GERD that was unresponsive to conventional therapy.

First, the children were given 250 mL of whole milk and underwent esophageal manometry for 2 hours (control period). The children were then randomized to receive either or…