The role of Helicobacter Pylori and laryngopharyngeal reflux in recurrent tonsillitis

Association Between Helicobacter pylori and Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

It is controversial that Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) is involved in the pathogenesis or development of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD).

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the potential association between LPRD and H pylori infection.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A systematic review was performed of studies assessing the diagnosis or treatment of LPRD among patients with H pylori infection. Data sources are PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE[Ovid], Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, and ClinicalTrials.gov.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies were analyzed in the review, with all eligible for the meta-analysis. A significant association between H pylori infection and LPRD was detected for higher rates of H pylori infection in patients with LPRD than in non-LPRD patients (relative risk (RR), 1.35; 95% CI, 1.12-1.63; P = 0.002), and H pylori-positive patients had a higher prevalence of LPRD than H pylori-negative patients (RR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.07-1.31; P = 0.001). The prevalence of H pylori among patients with LPRD was 49% (95% CI, 36-61), the prevalence of H pylori among patients with non-LPRD was 35% (95% CI, 23-49).

CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE

The limited evidence indicated the association between LPRD risk and increased H pylori infection. Different population races, diagnostic approach to LPRD, variant H pylori testing methods, age and sex may contribute to the heterogeneity. Further well-designed studies regarding the efficacy of H pylori eradication in the treatment of LPRD are strongly recommended in the future.

Pediatric Laryngopharyngeal Reflux in the Last Decade: What Is New and Where to Next?

BACKGROUND

Laryngopharyngeal reflux may affect people of any age; still, most of the accumulated knowledge concerns adults, and evidence regarding pediatric populations remains relatively restricted. This study aims to review the most recent and emerging aspects of pediatric laryngopharyngeal reflux from the last ten years. It also attempts to identify gaps in knowledge and highlight discrepancies that future research should urgently address.

METHODS

An electronic search of the MEDLINE database was conducted, limited to January 2012 through December 2021. Non-English language articles, case reports, and studies that concerned a purely or predominantly adult population were excluded. The information from the articles with the most relevant contribution was initially categorized by theme and subsequently synthesized into a narrative form.

RESULTS

86 articles were included, of which 27 were review articles, eight were surveys, and 51 were original articles. Our review systematically maps the research done in the last decade and provides an updated overview and the current state-of-the-art in this subject.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite discrepancies and heterogeneity in accumulating research, evidence gathered so far endorses a need for refining an escalating multiparameter diagnostic approach. A step-wise therapeutic plan appears to be the most reasonable management approach, starting with behavioral changes for mild to moderate, uncomplicated cases and escalating to personalized pharmacotherapy options for severe or nonresponsive cases. Surgical options could be considered in the most severe cases when potentially life-threatening symptoms persist despite maximal medical therapy. Over the past decade, the amount of available evidence has been gradually increasing; however, its strength remains low. Several aspects remain markedly under-addressed, and further adequately powered, multicenter, controlled studies with uniformity in diagnostic procedures and criteria are urgently needed.

[The effect of expression of pepsin in vocal polyps on postoperative curative effect]

Objective:To investigate the effect of tissue pepsin expression of vocal polyps on the postoperative curative effect. Methods:Retrospectively analyze the data of 112 patients diagnosed with vocal cord polyps and undergone surgery from June 2019 to March 2021. The cases were divided into positive group and negative group according to the immunohistochemical pepsin expression. The preoperative reflux symptom index （RSI） and the reflux finding score （RFS） were compared, and the recovery of the voice acoustic function and postoperative vocal cord morphology were analyzed. Results:Among the postoperative specimens of 112 patients,76 cases were positive for pepsin staining, accounting for 67.9%, and 36 cases were negative, accounting for 32.1%. In the pepsin-positive group, 48 cases of vocal cord morphology returned to normal, and 20 cases remained scar or edema in the operation area, 8 cases of polyps relapsed; in the pepsin-negative group, a total of 32 cases of vocal cord morphology returned to normal, 4 cases of remained scar or edema in the operation area, no relapsed cases, the difference in vocal cord morphology recovery was significant （χ²=8.689, P=0.013）. The symptoms of hoarseness improved after 12 weeks. The differences between pre and post operative of G grade, VHI, MPT, fundamental frequency perturbation and amplitude perturbation assessed by GRBAS were significant （P<0.05）; postoperative G grade, VHI, MPT, fundamental frequency perturbation and amplitude perturbation were compared between the pepsin-positive group and the pepsin-negative group, and the differences were significant （all P<0.05）. Conclusion:The expression of pepsin in vocal polyps is a significant clinical indicator that affects the acoustic effect and morphological recovery of vocal cords after surgery. For patients with positive expression, acid suppression treatment should be strengthened after surgery.