24-Hr Ambulatory Double-probe pH Monitoring in LPR

역류성 후두염의 증상을 가진 환자에서의 24시간 이중 탐침 식도 산도 측정

The term laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) refers to the backflow of food or stomach acid back up into the larynx (the voice box) or the pharynx (the throat). Esophagopharyngeal reflux is suggested as an etiologic factor in laryngeal disease. To examine a possible esophageal basis for laryngopharyngeal symptoms, we studied 48 patients with persistent laryngopharyngeal symptoms, and 12 relative control subjects. Patients were evaluated for cervical symptoms by questionnaire and underwent gastrofiberoscopy, fiberoptic laryngoscopy, esophageal manometry and 24-hour ambulatory double-probe pH monitoring. We found LPR in fourteen out of 48 patients with cervical symptoms (29%). The LPR group consisted of nine men and five women. The symptoms that LPR patients complained were throat lump sensation, hoareness, sore throat, throat clearing, chronic coughing and dysphagia in order of frequency, and they were not different significantly from non-LPR patients. The laryngoscopic findings in LPR patients were posterior erythema, laryngeal edema and diffuse erythema, and there was also no significant difference between LPR group and non-LPR group. There was statistically significant correlation between LPR and gastroesophageal reflux (GER). We concluded that there is no pathognomonic symptoms or laryngoscopic findings in diagnosis of LPR, and 24-hour ambulatory double-probe pH monitoring is an essential diagnostic tool in LPR.