Laryngopharyngeal reflux finding scores correlate with gastroesophageal reflux disease and Helicobacter pylori expression

Abstract

Conclusion. The expression of Helicobacter pylori (HP) positivity and degree of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) correlate with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). HP positivity and degree of GERD were more adverse in patients with a reflux finding score (RFS) of 7 or more. Objective. We aimed to investigate the relationship between RFS and inflammation of the lower part of the esophagus as well as RFS and HP infection. Patients and methods. Forty-five consecutive patients were analyzed prospectively. The degree of LPR was evaluated using the RFS method. The degree of GERD, lower esophageal mucosal inflammation, and antral HP positivity were evaluated using endoscopic surveys. Results. The mean RFS of the whole population was 11.5 +/- 4.4. The mean RFS of patients who had lower esophageal mucosal inflammation was 7 +/- 0.1, 8.1 +/- 1.3, 13.9 +/- 3.7, and 16.6 +/- 3.5, for grades A, B, C and D, respectively. The RFS of patients according to HP expression was as follows: 7.2 +/- 0.4, 9.3 +/- 3.07, 12.7 +/- 3.16, and 17.8 +/- 2.1, for normal ( score 0), score I, score II, and score III, respectively.