Clinical Evaluation of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux and its Response to Proton Pump Inhibitors

To clinically evaluate the patients of laryngopharyngeal reflux(LPR) and their response to Proton Pump Inhibitors(PPIs) using laryngeal Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) and Reflux Finding Score (RFS).

This prospective observational study was conducted on 128 patients attending the ENT-OPD of VSSIMSAR,Burla,India, who had persistent laryngeal symptoms for more than 2 months.Data was collected using standardized RSI and RFS after taking detailed history and laryngoscopic examination.Patients who were diagnosed of LPR on the basis of their RSI & RFS were subjected to treatment with PPI-Pantoprazole & were called back for follow up at 2nd, 4th and 6th months.Pre and post treatment RSI & RFS were compared using appropriate statistical tests and results with p-value< 0.01 were considered statistically significant.

The overall effect of PPIs on all symptoms & signs of LPR,included in RSI and RFS respectively,is statistically significant except on swallowing (not statistically significant at p <0.01) showing a careful usage of RSI & RFS while diagnosing LPR clinically.Study also elucidated that PPI are effective in relieving symptoms of LPR patients.Evaluating Pearson correlation coefficient,the value of R=0.3717;R2 =0.1382 shows low positive correlation between the RSI & RFS.RSI & RFS are related to each other and any change in the RSI will affect the value of RFI and vice versa.

From this study we conclude that LPR is prevalent in age of 28-37 years & has female preponderance.PPIs are effective in treating LPR.Though RSI and RFS are effective and valid parameters for managing LPR cases but have to be used cautiously while interpreting the results.