Using RSI and RFS scores to differentiate between reflux-related and other causes of chronic laryngitis.

Objective: To establish if the Reflux Symptom Index (RFI) and the Reflux Finding Score (RFC) can help establish the differential diagnosis in patients with distinct causes of chronic laryngopharyngitis.

Methods: A group of 102 adult patients with chronic laryngopharyngitis (Group A - 37 patients with allergic rhinitis; Group B - 22 patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA); Group C - 43 patients with Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR)) were prospectively studied. Chronic laryngitis was diagnosed based on suggestive symptoms and videolaryngoscopic signs (RSI ≥ 13 and RFS ≥ 7).

Validation of the Brazilian Portuguese Version of the Reflux Finding Score.

Introduction: Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) poses a diagnostic challenge. Clinical diagnosis, based on suggestive symptoms and laryngoscopic signs of inflammation, should be acceptable, as long as diligent differential diagnosis is sought. In order to minimize subjectivity, a number of diagnostic instruments have been proposed, being the most common the Reflux Symptom Index and the Reflux Finding Score (RFS).

Temporal Association Between Respiratory Events and Reflux in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Laryngopharyngeal Reflux.

Study Objectives: The aim of the current study was to test the hypothesis that there is a temporal correlation between reflux episodes and respiratory events in patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux and obstructive sleep apnea.

Methods: Adults with clinically diagnosed laryngopharyngeal reflux confirmed by two validated instruments (reflux symptom index ≥ 13 and reflux finding score ≥ 7) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) underwent full polysomnography with concomitant and synchronized multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH esophageal monitoring. The apnea-hypopnea and arousal indexes that occurred 15, 30, and 45 minutes before and after each reflux episode were recorded and compared to full-night apnea and hypopnea and arousal index.

Salivary transforming growth factor alpha in patients with Sjögren's syndrome and reflux laryngitis.

Introduction: Saliva plays a key role in the homeostasis of the digestive tract, through its inorganic components and its protein growth factors. Sjögren's syndrome patients have a higher prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease and laryngopharyngeal reflux. Decreased salivary transforming growth factor alpha levels were observed in dyspeptic patients, but there have been no studies in patients with Sjögren's syndrome and laryngopharyngeal reflux.

Prevalence of signs and symptoms of laryngopharyngeal reflux in snorers with suspected obstructive sleep apnea.

Objective: To study the prevalence of signs and symptoms of reflux in snorers with suspected OSA.

Method: This cross-sectional study enrolled 74 patients assessed positive for OSA with the Berlin questionnaire. The subjects were followed up at the sleep disorder ward of a university center.

Oropharyngeal dysphagia in patients with multiple sclerosis: do the disease classification scales reflect dysphagia severity?

Unlabelled: Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disease that involves swallowing disorders. Many studies have shown an association between neurological and swallowing performance, but results have been conflicting.

Objective: To identify the frequency of dysphagia in patients with multiple sclerosis and neurological indicators that can represent the performance of swallowing.

Translation and cultural adaptation of the Reflux Finding Score into Brazilian Portuguese.

Unlabelled: The supraesophageal manifestations of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease commonly known as Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR) are highly prevalent. The diagnosis of LPR is challenging and mostly based on suggestive symptoms and signs of inflammation at the larynx and pharynx. In order to decrease the subjectivity of clinical assessment, a score based on endolaryngeal videolaryngoscopic findings, the Reflux Finding Score (RFS), was proposed by Belafasky et al.

pH salivary analysis of subjects suffering from Sjögren's syndrome and laryngopharyngeal reflux.

Unlabelled: Saliva is one of the components for the digestive homeostasis. Recent studies have shown that patients with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) present a drop in salivary pH. Patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) are a potential clinical research model for xerostomia and its laryngeal and pharyngeal consequences.

Unsuspected intraoperative finding of structural abnormalities associated with vocal fold polyps.

Objectives: To report the findings of unsuspected underlying concurrent abnormalities of the vocal fold (VF) associated with polyps.

Study Design And Setting: Retrospective chart review at tertiary teaching institution.

Subjects And Methods: Operative and clinical notes of 81 adults submitted to suspension laryngoscopy for vocal fold polyp (VFP) excision from 1998 to 2007, which had no previous report of associated structural abnormalities.

[Incidence of structural vocal fold abnormalities associated with vocal fold polyps.

Unlabelled: Phonotrauma is considered the main cause of vocal fold polyps (VFP). However, the authors believe that an underlying anatomical deviation could render the vocal folds more susceptible to such trauma.

Aim: To prove this hypothesis a retrospective chart review was carried out to correlate the surgical findings of patients with VFP.

Auditory voice-perception analysis sensitivity and specificity in the screening of laryngeal disorders.

Unlabelled: Despite the growing experience obtained from the National Pro-Voice Campaigns in screening individuals with laryngeal alterations, we still have not established which would be the best assessment method: speech and hearing screening alone, laryngoscopy alone, or a joint work with physicians and speech therapists doing the screening together.

Aim: the goal of the present study was to assess the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of the auditory voice-perception analysis compared to videolaryngoscopy as a screening method for individuals with laryngo-pharyngeal disorders.

Materials And Methods: We compared the vocal aspects (GRBASI scale, pitch, loudness, CPF and resonance) and videolaryngoscopic from 567 individuals who participated in the National Pro-Voice Campaign 2005 in a tertiary university hospital.

Extra-laryngeal complications of suspension laryngoscopy.

Unlabelled: Although suspension laryngoscopy is routinely used in laryngeal surgery, there are only few studies on the complications of this procedure.

Aim: to evaluate the complications outside the larynx following suspension laryngoscopy and analyze their relation with surgery duration.

Materials And Methods: Thirty-seven procedures were prospectively analyzed for intervention-related complications.

Salivary egf concentration in adults with reflux chronic laryngitis before and after treatment: preliminary results.

Unlabelled: The Laryngopharyngeal Reflux (LPR) physiopathology is still unknown. The Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) is a biologically active salivary protein that aids in the rapid regeneration of the oropharyngeal and upper digestive tract mucosas. Salivary deficiency of this protein in patients with LPR has been demonstrated in previous studies.

Comparative study of salivary pH and volume in adults with chronic laryngopharyngitis by gastroesophageal reflux disease before and after treatment.

Introduction: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) is the most prevalent digestive disease of the modern society and has been associated with abnormalities in the larynx and pharynx (LPR). Nonetheless, little is known about the mechanisms involved in this atypical form of the disease. Contradictory clinical data suggest a defense deficit at this segment.

Glottic configuration in wind instrument players.

Introduction: Knowledge of occupational voice disorders has gained increased importance as more individuals rely on their voices for their work. Wind instrument players are a specific group of individuals that present intensive use of the vocal tract associated with blowing their instrument. Interestingly, only a small number of reports focus on the laryngeal function of such professionals.

Is there a relationship between the pH and volume of saliva and esophageal pH-metry results?

There are several implications in the buffer capacity and in the protective role of saliva in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other digestive disorders. The lack of knowledge about the production and quality of saliva and the fact that saliva plays an important role in digestive homeostasis motivated the authors to study the relationship between reflux measured by esophageal pH-metry and the pH and volume of saliva in individuals with GERD and its laryngopharyngeal manifestations (LPR). The study was designed as a randomized clinical trial.