Laryngeal Disorders in Egyptian Patients with Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Abstract
Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is chronic illness caused by reflux of gastric acidic contents back up into the esophagus causing wide range of symptoms. Laryngeal reflux is caused by A mechanism which seem identical to GERD some researchers think there is correlation between the prevalence of the two diseases.
Aim of Study: The study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of laryngeal reflux in cases of gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Methods: In this Prospective study evaluation of the prevalence of Laryngeal reflux symptom in cases of GERD was done in 200 patients by applying Reflux Finding Score (RFS) and Reflux Symptoms Index (RSI). They were divided into two groups Group-I; included 100 patients with Lartngeal reflux symptoms, Group-II; included 100 patients without Laryngeal reflux symptoms and this group was subdivided by laryngoscopic finding into Group-IIA; Laryngeal reflux free and Group-IIB; silent laryngeal reflux according to RFS.
Results: GERD was found in all 200 (100%) patients included in the study Group I included 100 patients all of them had symptoms and signs of Laryngeal reflux, Group II included 100 patients didn't have symptoms of Laryngeal reflux of them 92 (92%) patients (Group IIA) were found to be free of Laryngeal reflux signs and 8 (8%) patients (Group IIB) were found to have signs of laryngeal reflux (silent laryngeal reflux).
Conclusion: Manifest Laryngeal reflux was found in 100 (50%) of GERD patients, silent Laryngeal reflux was found in 8 (8%) of GERD patients not complaining of Laryngeal reflux symptoms.