Medical Therapy of Reflux Laryngitis

Abstract

Laryngeal signs and symptoms are frequently associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Establishing the diagnosis of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), however, is enigmatic as there are no tests that specifically define GERD-related laryngitis. Furthermore, in contrast to typical GERD, the treatment data for LPR using acid suppression with proton pump inhibitors has not shown a statistically significant advantage over placebo. This review highlights the current challenges for establishing the diagnosis of GERD-related LPR and focuses on the limitations of medical therapy directed toward gastric acid suppression.