Topical treatment of Reinke's oedema with beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) inhalation aerosol

Reinke's oedema is a disease which is characterized by oedema of the vocal cords. Women in middle age are particularly prone to this disease, which is encountered mostly in habitual smokers and is often connected with vocal abuse. The condition gives rise to a deep hoarse voice. The traditional treatment is decortication of the vocal cords followed by speech therapy, but the results have so far been disappointing. It has been shown by Moesgaard Nielsen et al. (1985) and Matsuo et al. (1983) that, in the long term, the incidence of recurrence is approximately 60 per cent. Medical treatment of this disease is therefore desirable. It is widely known that topical steroids are often used, but the effects of such treatment have not, so far as we know, been documented. We have found it interesting to observe the effects of BDP inhalation aerosol and placebo in the course of a four-week double-blind randomized trial treatment of Reinke's oedema.