OBJECTIVETo determine the clinical value of 24 h double-probe pH-metry for the diagnosis and treatment of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR).

METHODSAccording to the pH-metry results (whether the reflux events record in the upper esophagus is more than 6.9), patients of refractory pharyngolaryngitis were divided into LPR and control groups (each of 17 cases). All patients treated with anti-acid therapy and conventional pharyngo-laryngitis therapy. Correlation between pH-metry and the reflux symptom index (RSI), the reflux symptom index (RFI) were analyzed. Changes of the RSI and RFI in different group were calculated in post-treatment.

RESULTSIn the LPR group, the median reflux events of the upright time were higher than the supine time (Z = -3.62, P < 0.01), but the difference was not discovered in the control group (Z = -0.60, P > 0.05). There was no statistical difference between RSI, RSI and RFS with pH-metry, and with moderate concordance (k were 0.47, 0.53, P < 0.01, respectively). Compared to pre-treatment, the RSI and RFI were decreased both in LPR group and control group, Amplitude decreased in LPR group significantly higher than the control groups, with statistical difference (t were 3.74, 3.01, P < 0.01, respectively).

CONCLUSIONThe 24 h double-probe pH-metry is significant for the anti-acid therapy of LPR.