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Current Thinking with Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Symptoms

July 26, 2020 9:00 am

A recent study (H-C Lien et al. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2020; 18: 14-66-74) adds a bit more insight into the topic of larygnpharyngeal symptoms (related blog post: Gastroestophageal Reflux Phenotypes and Where ‘Rome, Lyon, and Montreal Meet’ provides more information on treatment outcomes).

Methods: In this prospective multi-center observational study with adults aged 20-70 years, n=142 completed study), enrollment required chronic laryngitis symptoms >3 months and “laryngoscopic” signs suggestive of reflux. Subsequently, patients were examined with multiple modalities, including 24-pH testing, manometry, and Bernstein test followed by treatment with omeprazole 40 mg twice a day.

Key Findings:

Pathologic reflux was identified in 146/252 (58%) of those meeting inclusion criteria. Thus, approximately 40% did NOT have objective findings of reflux despite suspicion of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR); this is similar to other studies.
In those with documented reflux, those with and without typical reflux symptoms had improvement in LPR with omeprazole therapy: 57% and 63% respectively; whereas, omeprazole therapy was effective in 32% in those without objective (pH probe) findings of reflux. In previous studies, reflux laryngitis response to PPIs has been similar to placebo.

My take: Typical reflux symptoms are not needed for patients with LPR to respond to PPIs. However, more than 40% of individuals with LPR do NOT have objective evidence of reflux; in this subset, response to PPI therapy is low.

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Current Thinking with Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Symptoms

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