Pharyngeal pH probe findings in patients with postnasal drainage. Am J Rhinol 2005;19(4):340-3
Date
09/21/2005Pubmed ID
16171165Scopus ID
2-s2.0-25144455551 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 9 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: Patients commonly present with complaints of postnasal drainage (PND). This study reports the pharyngeal pH probe findings in patients without rhinitis/rhinosinusitis who present with complaints of PND.
METHODS: This is a prospective study of patients presenting with PND but no historical or endoscopic evidence of rhinitis/rhinosinusitis. Twenty-four-hour pharyngeal pH probe studies were done on 32 consecutive patients and compared with historical controls.
RESULTS: There were a total of 32 patients with PND (mean age, 54 years) and 51 controls (mean age, 49 years). The proportion of patients with positive pH probe studies was higher in PND (28.1%) versus controls (17.6%) but did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.27). However, when comparing the mean number of pharyngeal acid exposure events, patients with PND had significantly more events (1.6) than controls (0.3; p < 0.002). In addition, the mean acid exposure time was significantly higher in PND (0.18%) versus controls (0.01%; p < 0.004).
CONCLUSION: The proportion of patients with PND displaying positive pharyngeal 24 pH probe studies is not significantly greater than controls. However, patients with PND do exhibit a statistically greater degree of pharyngeal acid exposure as compared with controls. Additional research is required to delineate the role of pharyngeal reflux in patients with PND.
Author List
Loehrl TA, Smith TL, Merati A, Torrico-Brusky L, Hoffman RG, Toohill RJAuthor
Todd A. Loehrl MD Professor in the Otolaryngology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Case-Control StudiesFemale
Gastroesophageal Reflux
Humans
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Male
Middle Aged
Pharynx
Prospective Studies
Rhinitis
