The role of gastric Helicobacter pylori infection in laryngopharyngeal reflux disease

Objectives

To investigate the role of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection in laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR).

Study design

A prospective multidisciplinary clinical study.

Methods

Forty-four adult patients who applied to our ENT clinic with LPR symptoms were evaluated. Then these patients underwent upper gastrointestinal system endoscopy and double probe pH monitoring. In addition, during the endoscopy multiple biopsies from the stomach were obtained to detect H pylori.

Results

Results from 32 LPR positive patients were assessed (10 male and 22 female). There were no statistically significant differences between the presence of H pylori and sex, age, degree of gastritis and esophagitis, and also the number of reflux, fractional acid exposure time regarding proximal probe readings. Similarly for both proximal and distal probe readings, the average score of esophageal acid clearance was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). In addition, no statistically significant difference was found between the presence of H pylori and GERD (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

The results of this study demonstrated that there is no relationship between gastric H pylori infection and LPR.

EBM rating: B-3b