• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 2010

The pathophysiology of Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been known that it is developed when the offense-primarily the gastric acid-pepsin content of the refluxate-overcomes a 3-tiered esophageal protective defense. consisting of antireflux mechanisms, luminal clearance mechanisms, and tissue resistance. Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), which is known as an extraesophageal variant of GERD, has been considered to be developed by transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation (TLESR), direct mucosal injury by gastric contents, more sensitive mucosa compared to esophagus, and absence of buffering effect and aggravation of the injury due to pepsin. However, hypothesis of the pathophysiology in both entities are numerous and still lack of understanding for being a theory. There is no conflict that understanding the pathophysiology is necessary for resolving the problems of these diseases and numerous studies and results have been releasing. This review could provide clinicians dealing with GERD and LPR with applicable new information and help for overcoming the clinical obstruction.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2010

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common disorder caused by the reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus. According to the recent classification, GERD can elicit esophageal and extraesophageal syndromes. Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is defined as laryngeal symptoms with laryngeal inflammation caused by the acid reflux. The prevalence of GERD and LPR is increasing during the past decades in Korea and management of GERD and LPR is a challenging issue in clinical practice. Proton pump inhibitor is the most effective drug in the treatment of GERD. Most patients with LPR are given a 2-month trial of a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), however, there is still little evidence on the diagnosis or the treatment of LPR. During the last years concern have been raised regarding the risk of averse events related to long-term use of PPI. We review the recent update on medical treatment of GERD/LPR.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.56-63
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• 2021

Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) is an inflammatory condition of the upper aerodigestive tract mucosa induced by reflux content from stomach. Some of vocal cord diseases are associated with laryngopharyngeal reflux. Because of the pathophysiological features, proton pump inhibitor shows therapeutic effect on some vocal cord diseases. As like that, the gastric reflux contents can make macroscopic or microscopic morphological changes in the upper aerodigestive tract mucosa. Although the pathophysiology of LPRD is relatively clear, clinical diagnosis is still difficult. The diagnosis of LPRD includes objective tests such as 24-hours multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH metry and subjective tests such as questionnaire method. However, the objective verification of reflux is difficult due to invasiveness of the method, and the questionnaire methods have limitations because many symptoms are not specific for LPRD. Moreover, most methods are not fully standardized until now. Despite these limitations, many researchers are struggling to standardize diagnosis and treatment of LPRD, and there are several new achievements recently. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to review the recent literature on the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of LPRD, and to systematize our knowledge.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.124-128
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• 2012

Background and Objectives : There are many diagnostic modalities to evaluate laryngopharyngeal reflux. However, ideal diagnostic methods have not been established yet. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Water-Siphon test as a diagnostic test of laryngopharyngeal reflux. Subjects and Methods : From November 2006 to September 2007, we performed esophagography with Water-Siphon test and questionnaire, physical examination for 227 patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms. The results of Water-Siphon test were classified according to the degree of reflux, the number of reflux, the retention time and analyzed about the relationship with the reflux symptom index (RSI), reflux finding score (RFS). Results : The degree of reflux was related with pseudosulcus, thick endolaryngeal mucus. The number of reflux was related with thick endolaryngeal mucus. A positive predictive value of Water-Siphon test was 82.7% and sensitivity was 91.5%. Conclusion : Water-Siphon test is a reliable diagnostic test for laryngopharyngeal reflux.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.43-47
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• 2017

Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) is common in laryngologic practice. In Korea, up to 1 out of every 5 patients who visit otorhinolaryngology clinic is supposed to have LPRD with symptoms and physical findings. Major symptoms of LPRD include hoarseness, cough, reflux symptom and mild dysphagia. Even though LPRD is common, its diagnosis may be difficult, because its symptoms are nonspecific and the laryngeal findings are not always associated with symptom severity. In Recent study, 66.4% of Patient who has LPRD also associated with esophageal motility disorders. Esophageal achalasia is a disease of unknown etiology characterized by an absence of peristalsis in the body of esophagus and nonrelaxing hypertension of the lower esophageal sphincter. Common cause is loss of ganglion cells in Auerbachs plexus. The classic triad of symptoms in achalasia includes dysphagia, regurgitation and weight loss. LPRD and esophageal achalasia have similar symptoms but have different treatment of choice. The Differentiation diagnosis of theses disease is important and should be established by history, radiologic examination and endoscopic examination. We recently assessed a 59-year-old female patient who complained of an epigastric pain, dysphagia and chronic cough. LPRD was initially diagnosed on Laryngoscopic examination and Reflux Symptom Index, but patient was not relieved of any symptoms after treatment of Proton Pump Inhibitor for 3 months. After high resolution manometry, esophageal achalasia was finally diagnosed. We report this case regarding the diagnosis and treatment with review of literatures because we have to think about esophageal motility disorders as a differential diagnosis in laryngology.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.78-83
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• 2016

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) disease is an extraoesophageal variant of gastro-esophageal reflux disease that can affect the larynx and pharynx. LPR is associated with symptoms of laryngeal irritation such as throat clearing, coughing, and hoarseness. The main diagnostic methods currently used are laryngoscopy and pH monitoring. The most common laryngoscopic signs are redness and swelling of the throat. However, these findings are not specific of LPR and may be related to other causes or can even be found in healthy individuals. Furthermore, the role of pH monitoring in the diagnosis of LPR is controversial. A therapeutic trial with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) has been suggested to be cost-effective and useful for the diagnosis of LPR. However, the recommendations of PPI therapy for patients with a suspicion of LPR are based on the results of uncontrolled studies, and high placebo response rates suggest a much more complex and multifactorial pathophysiology of LPR than simple acid reflux. Laryngoscopy and pH monitoring have failed as reliable tests for the diagnosis of LPR. Empirical therapy with PPIs is widely accepted as a diagnostic test and for the treatment of LPR. However, further research is needed to develop a definitive diagnostic test for LPR.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.22-27
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• 2004

Background : LPRD(Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease) gives rise to inflammatory change in the pharyngolaryngeal tissue with various otolaryngologic symptoms. Ranitidine, histamine H2receptor antagonists, are currently used as therapeutic medications. However, the efficacy of Ranitidine on LPRD has not been proven yet. Objectives : We intended to analyze the efficacy of the Ranitidine on LPRD. Materials :md Methods : In 20 multicenter, 607 patients with LPR(laryngopharyngeal reflux) symptom were observed to evaluate their symptoms and laryngoscopic findings after 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks of treatment of Ranitidine. Results : The symptom of LPR including globus sensation, sore throat hoarseness, regurgitatioin are improved after 4 weeks $86.2\%,\;8 weeks\;91.5\%,\;12 weeks\;92.9\%$ of Ranitidine treatment and improved after 4 weeks $91.5\%,\;8 weeks\;94.5\%,\;12 weeks\; 97.2\%$ of Ranitidine combined with prokinetics. The rates of sore throat, chronic cough, globus sensation improvement at 8 weeks after treatment are $26.7\%,\;16.7\%,\;16\%$. Conclusion : In patient with LPR, Ranitidine treatment reduces LPR symptoms very effectively.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2009

Background and Objectives : Proton pump inhibitors(PPIs) improve the symptoms of laryngopharyngeal reflux(LPR). But there is little reports about the changes of each items in reflux symptom index (RSI) and reflux finding score (RFS) after PPIstreatment. The purpose of this study is to analyze the changes of pre- and post-treatment score in each RSI and RFS items after 8 weeks medication with proton pump inhibitors in laryngopharyngeal reflux patients. Methods : Prospective study. Among the patients who had visited the department of otolaryngology from January 2007 to December 2008, 91 patients who had shown scores greater than 13 on the RSI and/or 7 on the RFS were studied. All patients received PPIs once daily before breakfast for 8 weeks. RSI and RFS were assessed at initial, four weeks and eight weeks after medication. Result: All RSI items were improved (p < 0.05). The globus sense followed by throat clearing, heartburns and hoarseness showed high initial RSI score than other items. And globus sense, throat clearing, hoarseness and heartburn were improved significantly more than others items. But only posterior commissure hypertrophy of RFS was improved significantly more than others items. Conclusion: Empiric PPIs therapy reduced the RSI scores and more effective for symptoms such as globus sense, throat clearing, hoarseness and heartburn among suspected LPR patients. In RFS, only posterior commissure hypertrophy has improved significantly. However, the changes of each categories of RFS were minimal (average: 0.16), therefore clinical significance is restricted in RFS.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.43-47
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• 2012

Background and Objectives : Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) originates from regurgitation of gastric contents to the laryngopharynx, and it is relatively common disease in otolaryngology. Proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) medication is frequently using treatment method in present time, but controversies exist regarding treatment for it. High-resolution manometry (HRM) system is a newly developed device that using 36 channels and pressure topography plotting program, checking the function and status of esophagus. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical usefulness of HRM in LPRD patients who do not response to PPI medication. Materials and Method : From July 2009 to July 2010, a total of 99 patients who were suspected LPRD according to symptoms (Reflux Symptom Index >13) and laryngoscopic findings (Reflux Finding Score >7) were retrospectively enrolled in this study. Patients were consisted of 31 men and 68 women, the mean age was 51.8 years, the mean BMI was 22.46. Patients have taken PPI medication for 2 months, after medication, they performed HRM. Comparative analysis was performed with results of the difference in symptoms. Results : In 99 patients, 37 patients (37.4%) show not improvement of LPRD symptoms after PPI medication. Among them, 18 patients (48.6%) showed abnormal findings that were classified as Peristaltic dysfunction (38.9%), Diffuse esophageal spasm (11.1%), Relaxation impairment of LES (11.1%), Achalasia (5.6%), Hypotensive LES (11.1%), Relaxation impairment of UES (11.1%), Nutcracker esophagus (5.6%), Decreased resting pressure (5.6%). Other 62 patients (62.6%) show improvement of LPRD symptoms, 23 patients (37.1%) showed abnormal findings. Most common finding was Peristaltic dysfunction (43.4%) More prevalent abnormal findings of HRM were found in patients who revealed no response to PPI medication (48.6% vs. 37.1%), but it does not reach the statistical significance. Conclusion : Although statistical significances is not showed, the difference observed in the frequency of HRM abnormal finding between response and no response for PPI medication. It has been estimated that HRM may be used to determine differential diagnosis in patients with LPRD. Further studies in lager population containing normal controls will be needed to prove clinical usefulness.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.151-155
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• 2011

Background and Objectives : Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) originates from regurgitation of gastric contents to the laryngopharynx, and it is relatively common disease in otolaryngology. Proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) medication is frequently using treatment method in present time, but controversies exist regarding treatment for it. High-resolution manometry (HRM) system is a newly developed device that using 36 channels and pressure topography plotting program, checking the function and status of esophagus. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical usefulness of HRM in LPRD patients who do not response to PPI medication. Subjects and Method : From July 2009 to July 2010, a total of 99 patients who were suspected LPRD according to symptoms (Reflux Symptom Index >13) and laryngoscopic findings (Reflux Finding Score >7) were retrospectively enrolled in this study. Patients were consisted of 31 men and 68 women, the mean age was 51.8 years, the mean BMI was 22.46. Patients have taken PPI medication for 2 months, after medication, they performed HRM. Comparative analysis was performed with results of the difference in symptoms. Results : In 99 patients, 37 patients (37.4%) show not improvement of LPRD symptoms after PPI medication. Among them, 18 patients (48.6%) showed abnormal findings that were classified as Peristaltic dysfunction (38.9%), Diffuse esophageal spasm (11.1%), Relaxation impairment of LES (11.1%), Achalasia (5.6%), Hypotensive LES (11.1%), Relaxation impairment of UES (11.1%), Nutcracker esophagus (5.6%), Decreased resting pressure (5.6%). Other 62 patients (62.6%) show improvement of LPRD symptoms, 23 patients (37.1%) showed abnormal findings. Most common finding was Peristaltic dysfunction (43.4%) More prevalent abnormal findings of HRM were found in patients who revealed no response to PPI medication (48.6% vs. 37.1%), but it does not reach the statistical significance. Conclusion : Although statistical significances is not showed, the difference observed in the frequency of HRM abnormal finding between response and no response for PPI medication. It has been estimated that HRM may be used to determine differential diagnosis in patients with LPRD. Further studies in lager population containing normal controls will be needed to prove clinical usefulness.