Change of Reflux Symptom Index(RSI) and Reflux Finding Score(RFS) after 8 Weeks Medication with Proton Pump Inhibitors(PPIs) in Laryngopharyngeal Reflux patients

인후두역류질환 환자에서 8주 간의 양성자 펌프 억제제 사용에 따른 역류성 인후두염의 증상지수 및 소견점수의 변화양상에 대한 연구

Background and Objectives : Proton pump inhibitors(PPIs) improve the symptoms of laryngopharyngeal reflux(LPR). But there is little reports about the changes of each items in reflux symptom index (RSI) and reflux finding score (RFS) after PPIstreatment. The purpose of this study is to analyze the changes of pre- and post-treatment score in each RSI and RFS items after 8 weeks medication with proton pump inhibitors in laryngopharyngeal reflux patients. Methods : Prospective study. Among the patients who had visited the department of otolaryngology from January 2007 to December 2008, 91 patients who had shown scores greater than 13 on the RSI and/or 7 on the RFS were studied. All patients received PPIs once daily before breakfast for 8 weeks. RSI and RFS were assessed at initial, four weeks and eight weeks after medication. Result: All RSI items were improved (p < 0.05). The globus sense followed by throat clearing, heartburns and hoarseness showed high initial RSI score than other items. And globus sense, throat clearing, hoarseness and heartburn were improved significantly more than others items. But only posterior commissure hypertrophy of RFS was improved significantly more than others items. Conclusion: Empiric PPIs therapy reduced the RSI scores and more effective for symptoms such as globus sense, throat clearing, hoarseness and heartburn among suspected LPR patients. In RFS, only posterior commissure hypertrophy has improved significantly. However, the changes of each categories of RFS were minimal (average: 0.16), therefore clinical significance is restricted in RFS.