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SELECTED ARTICLES FROM THE RECENT LITERATURE 2006
11/10/06
Treatment of laryngopharyngeal reflux improves asthma symptoms
Summary
Background – Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is a type of gastro-esophageal reflux in which gastric contents reflux to the levels of the larynx/pharynx, and is often manifest by hoarseness and frequent throat clearing. Does LPR play a role in aggravating asthma?
Findings – Eryuksel et al of Marmara Univ in Istanbul, Turkey evaluated 28 patients with mild to moderate persistent asthma (PA), mean age 46 years. Using questionnaire information and indirect video-laryngoscopy, they found evidence of LPR in 21 of the 28 patients. They also found subsequent improvement in the asthma as well as the LPR symptoms following treatment for 3 months with pantoprazole, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI).
Reference
J Asthma 2006;43:539-42
Editor's Comments
These findings of LPR in such a high percentage of asthmatic patients are very surprising. If true, these findings may be related to the older age and high percentage of females (24 of 28) in this patient study group. I would want to see confirmation of this uncontrolled, open study in other studies and results of a double blind, controlled comparison of a PPI vs placebo treatment in such asthmatics.
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