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World J Gastroenterol. Jul 28, 2008; 14(28): 4523-4528
Published online Jul 28, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.4523
Laryngopharyngeal reflux in patients with reflux esophagitis
Yung-Chih Lai, Pa-Chun Wang, Jun-Chen Lin
Yung-Chih Lai, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Cathay General Hospital, School of Medicine, National Taiwan University, School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 10630, Taiwan, China
Pa-Chun Wang, Department of Otolaryngology, Cathay General Hospital; School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei 10630; School of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan, China
Jun-Chen Lin, Department of Otolaryngology, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei 10630, Taiwan, China
Author contributions: Lai YC designed the research; Lai YC, Wang PC and Lin JC performed the research; Lai YC analyzed the data and wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Yung-Chih Lai, MD, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Cathay General Hospital, 280, Section 4, Jen-Ai Road, Taipei 10630, Taiwan, China. yungchihlai@hotmail.com
Telephone: +886-2-27082121
Fax: +886-2-27015744
Received: April 25, 2008
Revised: June 2, 2008
Accepted: June 9, 2008
Published online: July 28, 2008
Abstract

AIM: To assess the prevalence of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) in patients with reflux esophagitis and disclose factors contributing to the development of LPR.

METHODS: A total of 167 patients who proved to have reflux esophagitis by endoscopy were enrolled. They received laryngoscopy to grade the reflux findings for the diagnosis of LPR. We used validated questionnaires to identify the presence of laryngopharyngeal symptoms, and stringent criteria of inclusion to increase the specificity of laryngoscopic findings. The data of patients were analyzed statistically to find out factors related to LPR.

RESULTS: The prevalence rate of LPR in studied subjects with reflux esophagitis was 23.9%. Age, hoarseness and hiatus hernia were factors significantly associated with LPR. In 23 patients with a hiatus hernia, the group with LPR was found to have a lower trend of esophagitis grading.

CONCLUSION: Laryngopharyngeal reflux is present in patients with reflux esophagitis, and three predicting factors were identified. However, the development of LPR might be different from that of reflux esophagitis. The importance of hiatus hernia deserves further study.

Keywords: Laryngopharyngeal reflux; Gastroesophageal reflux disease; Reflux esophagitis