Gastroesophageal reflux in patients with recurrent laryngeal papillomatosis.

UNLABELLED: Evidence of a relation between gastroesophaeal reflux and pediatric respiratory disorders increases every year. Many respiratory symptoms and clinical conditions such as stridor, chronic cough, and recurrent pneumonia and bronchitis appear to be related to gastroesophageal reflux. Some studies have also suggested that gastroesophageal reflux may be associated with recurrent laryngeal papillomatosis, contributing to its recurrence and severity.

AIM: the aim of this study was to verify the frequency and intensity of gastroesophageal reflux in children with recurrent laryngeal papillomatosis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: ten children of both genders, aged between 3 and 12 years, presenting laryngeal papillomatosis, were included in this study. The children underwent 24-hour double-probe pH-metry.

RESULTS: fifty percent of the patients had evidence of gastroesophageal reflux at the distal sphincter; 90% presented reflux at the proximal sphincter.

CONCLUSION: the frequency of proximal gastroesophageal reflux is significantly increased in patients with recurrent laryngeal papillomatosis.