24-hour dual-probe ambulatory pH-metry findings in cases of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease

Background: Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) cases are common in clinical practice and usually neglected for want of a definitive diagnosis. Diagnosis requires a documented evidence of fall in pH levels in the laryngopharynx with dual-probe 24-hour ambulatory pH-metry. Aim: To study pH-metry findings in laryngopharyngeal reflux cases. Settings and Design: Study was done in a tertiary teaching hospital. Material and Methods: A total of 30 normal volunteers (Group A) and 65 patients (Group B) with complaints of hoarseness of voice for more than six weeks in the age group of 20 to 40 years were studied. A thorough ENT examination including fiberoptic laryngoscopy (FOL) was done on all cases. Group B was further divided into two subgroups. Subgroup B1 (n = 32) consisted of FOL positive and subgroup B2 (n = 33) comprised of FOL negative patients by reflux finding score. 24-hour ambulatory pH-metry was done for both groups. Results: Group A had no abnormal reflux patterns. In Subgroup B1, all 32 patients showed at least single laryngopharyngeal reflux episode over the 24-hour period. The most common pattern was 2 to 5 episodes occurring in 16/32 cases. Of the 32, five (15.6%) also had abnormal De Meester's score (gastroesophageal reflux disease [GERD] positive). In subgroup B2, 2 of 33 patients showed a typical LPR on 24-hour ambulatory pH-metry, despite showing LPRD negativity on FOL. None had an abnormal De Meester's score. Conclusion: LPRD may not coexist with GERD. Two to five reflux episodes pattern were found to be more common in LPR patients. Dual-sensor pH-metry is confirmatory for establishing diagnosis of LPRD.