Faculty Collaboration Database

Pepsin detection in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux before and after fundoplication. Surg Endosc 2011 Dec;25(12):3870-6

Date

06/23/2011

Pubmed ID

21695583

DOI

10.1007/s00464-011-1813-z

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-81955161202 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   43 Citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Some patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) suffer from laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). There is no reliable diagnostic test for LPR as there is for GERD. We hypothesized that detection of pepsin (a molecule only made in the stomach) in laryngeal epithelium or sputum should provide evidence for reflux of gastric contents to the larynx, and be diagnostic of LPR. We tested this hypothesis in a prospective study in patients with LPR symptoms undergoing antireflux surgery (ARS).

METHODS: Nine patients undergoing ARS for LPR symptoms were studied pre- and postoperatively using a clinical symptom questionnaire, laryngoscopy, 24-h pH monitoring, biopsy of posterior laryngeal mucosa, and sputum collection for pepsin Western blot assay.

RESULTS: The primary presenting LPR symptom was hoarseness in six, cough in two, and globus sensation in one patient. Pepsin was detected in the laryngeal mucosa in eight of nine patients preoperatively. There was correlation between biopsy and sputum (+/+ or -/-) in four of five patients, both analyzed preoperatively. Postoperatively, pH monitoring improved in all but one patient and normalized in five of eight patients. Eight of nine patients reported improvement in their primary LPR symptom (six good, two mild). Only one patient (who had negative preoperative pepsin) reported no response to treatment of the primary LPR symptom. Postoperatively, pepsin was detected in only one patient.

CONCLUSIONS: Pepsin is often found on laryngeal epithelial biopsy and in sputum of patients with pH-test-proven GERD and symptoms of LPR. ARS improves symptoms and clears pepsin from the upper airway. Detection of pepsin improves diagnostic accuracy in patients with LPR.

Author List

Wassenaar E, Johnston N, Merati A, Montenovo M, Petersen R, Tatum R, Pellegrini C, Oelschlager B

Author

Nikki Johnston PhD Professor in the Otolaryngology department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Blotting, Western
Cough
Female
Fundoplication
Hoarseness
Humans
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Laryngopharyngeal Reflux
Male
Middle Aged
Monitoring, Ambulatory
Pepsin A