THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LARYNGOPHARENGEAL REFLUX AND HISTOLOGIC TYPE OF INLET PATCH MUCOSA AND PRESENCE OF HELICOBACTER PYLORY IN INLET PATCH

SUMMARY Aim: Our study investigates the relations between the histological type of the “inlet patch” mucosa and the presence of helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) in these lesions, and the symptoms and findings of Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) in patients with LPR and “inlet patch” [heterotopic gastric mucosa of the cervical esophagus (HGM)]. Material and Methods: A total of 21 patients, 17 female (81%) and 4 male (19%), with LPR who had “inlet patches” as seen in the upper gastrointestinal system endoscopy without gastroesophageal reflux findings and who did not have lower esophageal sphincter failure as shown by the esophagus manometry were covered by the study. The type of the heterotopic gastric mucosa and the presence of Helicobacter pylori were investigated by taking histopathological samples in order to verify the diagnosis of the patients detected to have “inlet patch” in their upper gastrointestinal system endoscopy examination. Results: 14 patients (66.7%) had antral type, while 7 (33.3%) had fundal type gastric mucosa epithelia. The histopathological examination revealed that 5 of the patients (23.8%) had Helicobacter pylori while 16 patients (76.2%) did not. The statistical analysis demonstrated that there was no difference between the type of the “inlet patch” mucosa and the signs and symptoms of LPR (p>0.05) but there was a statistically significant increase in such symptoms as postnasal drip (p=0.003) and globus sensation in the throat (p=0.023) in patients with Helicobacter pylori. Further, the mean value of the reflux symptom index of the patients included in the study was 25.57 ± 3.53, while the mean value of the Reflux Finding Score was 15.14 ± 3.42. Discussion: The results of the study revealed that there was no relation between the “inlet patch” mucosa type and the presence of H. pylori in this mucosa, and the level of LPR disease.