Characteristics of laryngopharyngeal reflux in patients with chronic otitis media.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the characteristics of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) in patients with chronic otitis media.

METHODS: This was a prospective study in which 31 patients with chronic otitis media were enrolled. General patient information, reflux symptom index (RSI), reflux finding scores (RFSs), and Ryan scores were summarized.

RESULTS: Most (29/31, 93.5%) patients had a negative RSI (RSI ≤ 13). The most common symptoms of these patients were throat clearing (22/31, 71.0%), symptoms of the stomach and esophagus (19/31, 61.3%), and excess throat mucus or postnasal drip (14/31, 45.2%). In contrast to the RSI, most patients (22/31, 71.0%) had a positive RFS (RFS > 7). Among all of the signs found under the transnasal fiber-optic laryngoscope, erythema was the most frequent symptom (31/31, 100.0%), followed by vocal cord edema (27/31, 87.1%), and posterior commissure hypertrophy (27/31, 87.1%). Most cases (24/31, 77.4%) had a positive Ryan score, and most positive scores were upright scores.

CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with chronic otitis media had LPR simultaneously. The LPR in these patients manifested mainly by a positive RFS under a laryngoscope and not by symptoms of the larynx and pharynx. This suggests that LPR may be an important factor in the pathogenesis of COM and anti-reflux treatment may play a significant role in the management of chronic otitis media.