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Therapy Insight: gastroesophageal reflux disease and laryngopharyngeal reflux

Nature Clinical Practice Gastroenterology & Hepatology volume 2, pages 595–603 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Gastroesophageal reflux disease has been increasingly associated with ear, nose and throat signs and symptoms; however, the cause and effect relationship between these two clinical entities is far from established. Many patients initially diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease as the cause of laryngeal signs do not respond either symptomatically or laryngoscopically to aggressive acid suppression, and do not have abnormal esophageal acid exposure as measured by pH monitoring. This has resulted in frustration on the part of both gastroenterologists and ear, nose and throat physicians, and confusion on the part of patients. This review discusses the reasons for this controversy and highlights data that attempt to clarify this complex area.

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Figure 1: Normal laryngeal tissue as viewed by laryngoscopy.
Figure 2: Laryngoscopic examinations of laryngeal sites that show more injury in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease than in healthy subjects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Professor of Medicine, Director of Clinical Affairs for the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Director of Clinical Research, and Director of the Center for Swallowing and Esophageal Disorders, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA

    Michael F Vaezi

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  1. Michael F Vaezi
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Correspondence to Michael F Vaezi.

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Vaezi, M. Therapy Insight: gastroesophageal reflux disease and laryngopharyngeal reflux. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2, 595–603 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpgasthep0358

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