Optimal Regimen and Period for the Treatment of Patients with Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease

Abstract

Background and ObjectivesVarious drugs can be used for treatment of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD). However, the optimal medical treatment regimen is still controversial. This study was performed to determine the optimal medical treatment regimen and duration for LPRD.Subjects and MethodWe studied 172 patients who were diagnosed as LPRD by reflux symptom index (RSI) or reflux finding scores (RFS). The study group was divided into 4 groups according to the medication regimen: proton pump inhibitor (PPI), PPI and prokinetics, PPI and H2 blocker, and double dose PPI groups. All patients took medicines for 3 months or more. Clinical remission was defined as 70% improvement of initial RSI scores.Results36 (20.9%) patients were prescribed PPI only, 65 (37.8%) patients PPI with prokinetics, 51 (29.6%) patients PPI with H2 blocker, 20 (11.6%) patients double dose PPI. Pretreatment with RSI and RFS did not differ among the four groups. RSI was improved after one month of medication in all of the groups. RSI and RFS tended to decrease during the treatment in all groups (p for trend 〈0.001). The mean clinical remission time was 2.3 months in patients receiving PPI alone, 2.6 months in PPI and prokinetics group, 2.5 months in the PPI and H2 blocker group and 1.8 months in the double dose PPI group. About 70% of patients reached clinical remission within 3 months.ConclusionPPI with or without prokinetics or H2 blocker is effective treatment for LPRD, and the appropriate duration of medication seems to be about 3 months. Double dose PPI can be used for those whom normal dose PPI is ineffective.Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg 2014;57(10):698-702