Hoarseness and laryngopharyngeal reflux: a cause and effect relationship or coincidence?

Loading...
Thumbnail Image

Date

2006

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Springer

Access Rights

info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess

Abstract

The role of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) on hoarseness is widely assumed and accepted. Few articles present objective information on the subject. One of the main problems in establishing a relationship is our lack of knowledge of what is normal. We compared patients with chronic hoarseness and healthy controls to establish three goals: (1) to demonstrate the presence of additional symptoms and signs of LPR in patients with hoarseness; (2) to find the prevalence of LPR by utilizing 24 h double-probe in patients with hoarseness and compare it with that of the control group; (3) to contribute data to establish prevalence of LPR in healthy population. Forty-three patients with hoarseness and 20 healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study. All the patients in the study group had hoarseness of more than 3 months duration. The subjects recieved videolaryngoscopic evaluation and 24 h double-probe pH monitoring, and the results were compared. In the study group, 27 patients (62.8%) out of 43 had LPR episodes, compared to 6 (30%) of 20 healthy volunteers. Mean number of LPR episodes recorded by the pharyngeal probe was 7.0 [standard deviation (SD): 8.8] in 24 h, and this was significantly higher than that of the healthy controls [0.9/24 h (SD: 1.9)] (P = 0.003). Mean number of LPR episodes of the study group in upright position was 5.8 (SD: 7,0) and in supine position was 1.2 (SD: 3.3). These numbers were also significantly higher from the controls (P = 0.005 and P = 0.014 respectively). The results of this study show that: (1) most common additional symptoms were heartburn and chronic throat clearing and most common finding is pachydermia; (2) LPR incidence in patients with chronic hoarseness is significantly higher than the LPR incidence in healthy controls; (3) LPR is present in healthy people. However, the severity of LPR seems to be the causative factor rather than its presence.

Description

WOS: 000240396200010
PubMed: 16816932

Keywords

hoarseness, larynghopharyngeal reflux, pH monitoring, pharyngeal probe

Journal or Series

European Archives Of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology

WoS Q Value

Q3

Scopus Q Value

Q1

Volume

263

Issue

10

Citation