Refl ux Episode Reaching the Proximal Esophagus Are Associated with Chronic Cough

• Published in: Gut and liver Vol. 6; no. 2; pp. 197 - 202
• Main Authors: Jeong Hyun Lee, Seon Young Park, Sung Bum Cho, Wan Sik Lee, Chang Hwan Park, Young Il Koh, Young Eun Joo, Hyun Soo Kim, Sung Kyu Choi, Jong Sun Rew
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 대한간학회 30.04.2012
• Subjects: Cough; Gastroesophageal refl ux; Impedance
• ISSN: 1976-2283; 2005-1212

Background/Aims: Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic cough. The aims of this study were to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of multichannel intraluminal impedance combined with pH monitoring (MII/pH monitoring) in patients with suspected symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and to assess the correlation between GER symptoms and refl ux nature. Methods: Seventy patients with suspected symptoms of GERD (such as heartburn, acid regurgitation, noncardiac chest pain, globus and chronic cough) were enrolled. All patients were asked to discontinue medications that would infl uence esophageal motor function and gastric acid secretion at least one week ago. All subjects underwent MII/pH monitoring. Results: Forty-five patients (64.3%) were diagnosed with GERD. Among these patients, eleven patients (15.7%) had pathologic acid refl ux by pH data and thirty-four patients (48.6%) had pathologic bolus exposure by impedance. Subjects with chronic cough had a higher De- Meester score (p=0.009), percentage of acid exposure time (p=0.007), acid bolus exposure % time (p=0.027), distal acid refl ux episodes (p=0.015) and proximal acid refl ux episodes (p=0.030) than subjects without chronic cough. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that the impedance monitoring enhanced diagnostic sensitivity than pH-monitoring alone by 48.6%. In addition, refl ux episodes at the distal and proximal esophagus were noted to be important factors associated with chronic cough. (Gut Liver 2012;6:197-202)