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Objective: To study the profile and the therapeutic response of patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) at the hypopharyngeal-esophageal multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH monitoring (HEMII-pH) according to the initial pepsin saliva concentration. Methods: From January 2018 to January 2020, patients with positive LPR diagnosis at the HEMII-pH were consecutively recruited from 3 European Hospitals. Saliva pepsin concentration (Peptest™) was measured during the HEMII-pH testing period and patients were classified into 2 groups: negative versus positive Peptest. The clinical outcomes, that is, gastrointestinal and HEMII-pH findings, reflux symptom score-12 (RSS-12), and 3-month therapeutic response, were compared between groups. Results: A total of 124 patients completed the study. Among them, 30 patients had negative Peptest. Pharyngeal reflux events occurred outside 1-hour post-meal time in 74.0%, after the meals in 20.5% and nighttime in 5.5%. The pepsin saliva level was not significantly associated with the reflux events preceding the sample collection. Patients with positive Peptest had better improvement of RSS-12 digestive and respiratory subscores and oral, pharyngeal, and laryngeal findings compared with patients with negative Peptest. Conclusion: Patients with high saliva pepsin concentration had no stronger gastrointestinal, HEMII-pH, or clinical outcomes compared with those with low or undetectable saliva pepsin concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To develop and validate the Reflux Sign Assessment (RSA), a clinical instrument evaluating the physical findings of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). Methods: A total of 106 patients completed a 3-month treatment based on the association of diet, pantoprazole, alginate, or magaldrate with the LPR characteristics (acid, nonacid, mixed). Forty-two asymptomatic individuals completed the study (control group). The RSA results and reflux finding score (RFS) were documented for the LPR patients at baseline and after treatment. Intrarater reliability was assessed through a test-retest blinded evaluation of signs (7-day intervals). Interrater reliability was assessed by comparing the RSA evaluations of three blinded otolaryngologists through Kendall's W. Responsiveness to change was evaluated through a comparison of the baseline and 3-month posttreatment findings. The RSA cutoffs for determining the presence and absence of LPR were examined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: A total of 102 LPR patients completed the study (68 females). The mean age was 53 years. The mean RSA at baseline was 25.95 ± 9.58; it significantly improved to 18.96 ± 7.58 after 3 months of therapy (P <.001). RSA exhibited good intra- (r = 0.813) and interrater (Kendall's W = 0.663) reliabilities (N = 56). There was no significant association between the RSA, gastrointestinal endoscopy findings, and the types of reflux (acid, nonacid, or mixed) according to impedance-pH monitoring. An RSA >14 may be suggestive of LPR. Conclusion: The RSA is a complete clinical instrument evaluating both laryngeal and extralaryngeal findings associated with LPR. The RSA demonstrated high intra- and interrater reliabilities and responsiveness to change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]