OBJECTIVES: The reason why some patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) have symptoms of upper aerodigestive system irritation, while others mainly have gastroenterologic symptoms, is not well established. This retrospective case series study was designed to examine the existence of a correlation between symptoms and reflux characteristics, based on data obtained from esophageal pH monitoring.

METHODS: The study population consisted of 139 patients; 97 patients presented with laryngopharyngeal symptoms of GERD, including unexplained hoarseness, throat clearing, chronic cough, laryngospasm, globus, throat pain, and 42 patients presented with gastroenterologic symptoms, including heartburn and regurgitation. The results of 24-hour, double-channel ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring were analyzed comparing 2 symptom groups. The incidence of abnormal acid reflux at the upper and lower esophageal segments and the effects of upright and supine positions on reflux parameters were evaluated.

RESULTS: The incidence of laryngopharyngeal reflux was significantly higher in the laryngopharyngeal symptom group than in the other (52% versus 38%). The patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux from both groups showed no significant differences in terms of number of acid reflux episodes, percentage of times pH was <4, and esophageal acid clearance. Upright and supine parameters did not show significant differences between the patient groups. Upright acid reflux episodes were, however, common in both groups at the lower esophageal and laryngopharyngeal segments.

CONCLUSION: Recent studies suggesting that otolaryngologic patients commonly show upright, daytime reflux with normal esophageal clearance and that typical GERD patients commonly have supine, nocturnal reflux with prolonged esophageal clearance are not supported by this study. This study indicates that acid reflux parameters and positional changes are not sufficient to explain why patients with GERD experience different symptoms. The regional symptoms of GERD may be attributed to the impairment of epithelial resistance, motor activity, and buffering systems for the esophageal antireflux barrier.