Effects of Proton Pump Inhibitor Therapy for Laryngopharyngeal Reflux on Posttreatment Symptoms and Hypopharyngeal pH

ObjectiveTo determine the effect of twice-daily proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment on the relationship between laryngopharyngeal pH environment and symptoms in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR).Study Design and SettingRetrospective analysis of records from consecutive patients seen at a single clinical site between 2009 and 2012.Subjects and MethodsForty-three records of patients diagnosed with LPR who underwent pre- and posttreatment pH studies were included. Prior to treatment, all had a Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) > 13 and an abnormal pH study. Patients were treated for ≥ 4 weeks with twice-daily PPIs. Following treatment, patients completed a second RSI and pH study.ResultsMost patients (67.4%) had symptom normalization; however, most patients (60.5%) did not have pH normalization. For all patients whose symptoms did not normalize, pH scores also did not normalize; 32.6% of patients showed no subjective or objective treatment response. For individuals whose symptoms normalized but whose p...