Abstract

Background:One well-known extraesophageal manifestation of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is chronic laryngitis. The aim of this study was to estimate the efficiency of eight weeks of treatment with the PPI rabeprazole in a selected group of patients with chronic idiopathic laryngitis without typical GERD symptoms.Material/Methods: Seventeen patients (nine men and eight women) aged 35–72 years, with long histories (0.5 to 6 years) of chronic idiopathic laryngitis were included in the study. Larynx appearance was estimated by laryngostroboscopy. This examination, as well as interview and physical examination were performed in all patients at the start of the study and after 8 weeks of treatment with 20 mg rabeprazole taken orally twice a day.Results: There was remarkably good therapeutic outcome, clinical symptoms such as hoarseness and pharyngeal pain resolved, respectively, in 68.7 and 78.5% of patients and laryngeal signs in 50–80%, except for weak tension of the vocal cords which was observed in 12 patients at the start and end of the study.Conclusions: Treatment with a proton pump inhibitor can be considered as a first-line diagnostic and therapeutic method in patients with idiopathic chronic laryngitis. Weak tension of vocal cords was often seen in these patients and persisted after the 8-week-long treatment.

Keywords: Benzimidazoles - administration & dosage, Chronic Disease - drug therapy, Laryngitis - drug therapy, 2-Pyridinylmethylsulfinylbenzimidazoles, Benzimidazoles - therapeutic use, Chronic Disease - drug therapy, Laryngitis - drug therapy, Omeprazole - therapeutic use, Questionnaires, rabeprazole, Time Factors