International Journal of Open Access Otolaryngology

LaryngoPharyngeal Reflux (LPR) is a term recently described, classified among the “extra-esophageal disorders”, caused by another pathology called “Gastro-Esophageal Disease” (GED). Pepsin has been recognized as the true marker and the responsible factor of mucosal damage.

The clinical-instrumental diagnosis of LPR is mainly based upon video laryngoscopy exam, pH-measuring, pH-impedance measuring, using “score” questionnaires, designed to establish the presence of specific symptoms (Reflux Symptom Index – RSI) and endoscopic signs (Reflux Finding Score – RFS). The evidence of the role of pepsin associated to the LPR helped to develop new technologies, able to detect the presence of that enzyme within the saliva; this device is called Peptest^TM

The aim of the present study was to correlate the qualitativequantitative values of salivary pepsin (using Peptest®) with symptoms and signs obtained from RSI and RFS. The final goal is to validate this enzyme immunoassay method using LPR diagnostic tools.

Seventy-five patients were recruited (41 females, 34 males) aged between 12 and 71 years old, (average age 45 years). All patients performed anamnesis, including food habits analysis, RSI evaluation, rhinofibrolaryngoscopy exam with RFS calculation and Peptest^TM.

Highly comparable results were obtained in all of the 75 patients undergoing double detection of Peptest^TM, with LFD measure (T band intensity) and pepsin concentration (ng/ml).

Statistically significant correlation concerning symptoms and saliva pepsin concentration was demonstrated as well as the relationship between objective signs and saliva pepsin concentration.

The Peptest^TM could become the “Gold standard” in all cases LPR pathology suspicion and may allow revealing the symptoms of that pathology at its early onset, avoiding dealing with more invasive methods and helping to adopt the correct therapeutic follow-up as soon as possible.

Keywords: Peptest^TM; Laryngopharyngeal Reflux; Gastroesophageal Reflux; Therapy.

LaryngoPharyngeal Reflux (LPR) is a term recently described, classified among the “extra-esophageal disorders” caused by another well-known pathology called “Gastro-Esophageal Disease” (GED) [1,2]. The first insight that can be found in literature, concerning the possible involvement of ENT anatomical structures in the reflux pathology, goes back to 1903; in fact, Coffin speculated “gas reflux from the stomach” as well as the “hyper-acidity” could be considered responsible for hoarseness and back rhinorrhea [1-4]. Starting from the ‘80s, besides the relatively “old” knowledge of GED, a new concept arose; it proposed LPR could have been caused by “acid vapors” action, coming from the stomach. Those vapors, after being in contact with the esophageal mucosa and having passed through the Upper Esophageal Sphincter (UES), reach the upper respiratory tract: larynx, laryngopharynx, and finally the nose sinus area [3,5,18] and the middle ear through the auditory tubes [1,6,7].

Over time, several Authors have proposed various etiopathogenetic models in order to justify the damage of upper airways and digestive tract done by LPR. Pepsin has been recognized as the true marker and the responsible factor of mucosal damage [8-12,13]. Pepsin is a proteolytic enzyme originated in the stomach; it is present within the acid vapors. Once in contact with the laryngopharyngeal region, it can undergo an endocytosis process thanks to a specific cellular receptor located upon the mucosal epithelial surface; subsequently, the enzyme could be activated within the Golgi apparatus, causing a sequence of biochemical reactions finally resulting in an important cell suffering [13,16].

Nowadays the clinical-instrumental diagnosis of LPR is mainly based upon video laryngoscopy exam, pH measuring (esophageal, esophagopharyngeal, oropharyngeal),pHimpedance measuring, besides the use of “score” questionnaires designed to establish the presence of specific symptoms (Reflux Symptom Index – RSI) as well as endoscopic signs (Reflux Finding Score – RFS) [14,15]. However, the growing evidence of the role of pepsin associated to the LPR pathology has encouraged the development of new technologies, able to detect the presence of that enzyme within the saliva; thus leading to a device called Peptest^® [10]. This is an innovative diagnostic device, based on immune-enzymatic test (i.e. using monoclonal antibodies) able to detect the presence of pepsin in a saliva sample with a sensitivity and specificity of, respectively, 88 and 87% [17]. It is a rapid and non-invasive test. Pepsin, thanks to this device (Peptest^®), becomes a highly predictive marker of reflux pathology, if detected outside the gastric tract.

The aim of the present study, using one of the most recent diagnostic methods known as Peptest^®, was to correlate the qualitative-quantitative values of salivary pepsin with symptoms and signs obtained, respectively, from RSI and RFS. The final goal is to validate this enzyme immunoassay method using LPR diagnostic tools.

Seventy-five patients were recruited (41 females, 34 males) aged between 12 and 71 years old, (average age 45 years), among those seen in the Rhino-Allergology outpatient clinic at “U.O. Otorinolaringoiatria” of Policlinico Universitario in Bari (Italy), from May 2015 to January 2016.

Out of these 75 patients, 50 (Study Group) exhibited laryngopharyngeal disorders, whereas the remaining 25 (Control Group) suffered otovestibular problems (7 dizziness, 5 tinnitus, 13 sensorineural hearing loss).

All patients performed anamnesis, including food habits analysis, RSI evaluation, rhinofibrolaryngoscopy exam with RFS calculation and Peptest^TM .

At this stage, we consider the recent pathological anamnesis: in particular, we investigated why the patient required the physician’s help. Past medical history was collected; we focused on the presence of a hypotonic LES, hiatal hernia as well as past surgeries.

Careful counseling was put in place concerning the dietary habits of each patient; it aimed to identify the “refluxinducer” food and beverages using specific charts in which the patient could select those more frequently present (at least 2 or 3 times per week) in his/her diet [29].

During the anamnestic evaluation, each patient had to fill “RSI” questionnaire as designed by Belafsky, in order to evaluate the possibility and/or the seriousness of LPR occurrence. The RSI questionnaire is a widely used and approved, self-administered, nine - item questionnaire for the assessment of symptoms in LPR patients. The questionnaire consists of questions regarding hoarseness, throat clearing, postnasal drip, difficulty with swallowing, coughing, breathing difficulty, troublesome cough, lump sensation, and heartburn. The patients were requested to score each symptom from 0 to 5 (0 meant no symptom, 5 very frequent symptoms). Although the authors considered positive for LPR a total score ≥ 13, we thought it was more meaningful to decrease the value down to 10 (RSI cut-off), according to our previous findings (we have notice a positive PeptestTM result at this value) [14].

According to our experience, we finally included other significant symptoms for LPR diagnosis, such as: muffled ear feeling, burping; hiccup, nostril burning, conjunctiva disorders (burning and tearing).

The endoscopic examination of upper air and digestive ways has been carried out using a flexible rhinofibrolaryngoscope Vision Science (diameter 3.6). No patients required anaesthesiological procedures.

Important alterations of RFS calculation have been based on endoscopic evaluation of each patient. At this stage, the endoscopist assigned the score (0 to 4). An RFS value > 7 has been assumed as pathologic.

Similarly, as far as the objective examination was concerned, we looked for the presence of further signs deemed important in view of an LPR diagnosis, e.g.: hyperemia of the nasopharynx and of the tube torus, hyperemia of the tonsil pillars and hyperemia of the uvula.

All patients performed PeptestTM using their saliva samples [Fig.1 a-b]In order to guarantee the reliability of the final result, patients did not take PPI (proton pump inhibitors) or alginate based drugs, during 48h before the test. Furthermore, they did not get coffee or carbonated soft drinks and did not smoke: these substances, in fact, have a reflux action. Two separate saliva samples (1 ml each, roughly) were collected during two successive days into graduated test tubes, within 1 hour after the main meal. Those samples not processed, were stored, refrigerated at 4°C with addition of 0.5 ml of 0.01M citric acid, for no longer than 3 days. Each saliva sample was processed as follow: 0.5 ml of the sample was centrifuged at 5000 rpm for 5 minutes for obtaining supernatant; 80 μl of supernatant was added to 240 μl of migration buffer. After vortexing for 10 seconds, 80 μl of the solution was pipetted into the well of the PeptestTM Lateral Flow Device (LFD). The test was read after 15 minutes. The presence of a C band (control) indicates that the PeptestTM was correctly performed. The appearance of a second band (T) means that pepsin was present in the test sample. Since the intensity of the T band is directly proportional to the quantity of pepsin, the result provided by PeptestTM was both qualitative and quantitative. It is possible to get a quantitative value using the reader LFDR101®. It is an instrument, whose readout provides the pepsin concentration in ng/ml. Thanks to a special conversion table, we were able to determine the different pepsin levels originally present in the saliva samples. Finally, in order to check the reliability of the test, two readings were recorded for

PeptestTM compared to “ELISA human pepsin detection test” is more specific for LPR. In fact, it is able to detect pepsin concentration using saliva sample, unlike ELISA rates, in blood sample, precursor protein of this enzyme: type I and II pepsinogen. PeptestTM is also considered the cheapest and the most usable test for LPR, available at the moment.

Highly comparable results were obtained in all of the 75 patients undergone double detection of PeptestTM, with LFD measure (T band intensity) and pepsin concentration (ng/ml). The test itself can be considered reliable and reproducible [LFD (p=0, 2957), pepsin concentration (p=0, 2020)].

The sample study was divided into two groups, according to the RSI level:

- Group 1: RSI < 10;
- Group 2: RSI ≥10.
The two Groups were homogenous as far as the age was concerned (p=0.1637) and the number of components was balanced.
As already reported, the RSI cut-off was down to 10 because of the observation that PeptestTM was positive at those levels. [Table 1,Table 2]
Figure 2 shows the most frequent symptoms described by the patients.
The correlation analysis between age, RSI value, pepsin and number of symptoms per patient, was statistically significant (p< 0.005).

As far as the symptoms alone were concerned, we have found a statistically significant difference between the two Groups (p=0. 0000), with a higher score referred to the patients belonging to Group 2.
According to pepsin concentration, the sample was divided into 4 Groups: the first was characterized by a value of ≤100 ng/ml pepsin concentration; the second had values in the range 101-200 ng/ml; the third 201-300 ng/ml and the last one exceeding 300 ng/ml. We correlated symptom and PeptestTM value, in order to address properly the diagnosis and the therapy [Figure 3].

As far as the correlation between the endoscopic rhinopharyngo- laryngeal signs and saliva pepsin values, we divided the study sample into three Groups: the first showed a pepsin concentration ≤ 100 ng/ml, the second had values in the range 101-300 ng/ml and the third over 300 ng/ml.

The results did demonstrate that the endoscopic signs gradually appeared along with the increase of saliva pepsin values. More specifically, nasopharynx hyperemia, sometimes related to small bruising dots together with the hyperemia of tube torus, represented the first sign associated to a low saliva pepsin concentration (≤100 ng/ml). When the concentration increased, (reaching values between 101 and 300 ng/ml) we could detect the hyperemia of the palate pillars and of the uvula; the hyperemia of the arytenoids and the hypertrophy of the front commissure has been appreciated, respectively, in 50 and 40% of all cases. When the value of the saliva pepsin was above 300 ng/ ml, hyperemia of the laryngeal face of epiglottis has been noticed in 28% of the examined patients [Table 1].

We have considered the percentage of reflux-inducer food present in our patients’ diet the diet. In 93% of the cases we discovered the consumption of fruit (citrus fruits and citrus fruits juices)

as well as vegetables (particularly tomato and tomato sauce). 79% of patients used to eat sweet and fat food (brioches, chocolate, cookies, etc…), 68% meat fried food (hamburgers, chips, etc…), 64% milk and milk derivatives, 57% drinks (sparkling water, carbonated drinks, spirits, beer and sparkling wines), 50% cereals and cereals derivatives and finally 37% specific refluxinducer food (spices, chewing-gum, etc) [Figure 4].

None of the 25 examined individuals showed inflammatory disorders affecting airways and digestive tract; they did not were not affected by any reliable disease; this finding was confirmed by both RSI and RFS scores, which were lower than, respectively, 10 and 7. The same patients were negative for the Peptest^TM, too.

The scientific bibliography tends to highlight the detrimental mechanism of the pepsin’s action towards the mucosa of the upper airways and digestive tract, as an expression of the well-known extra-esophageal phenomena of Gastro – Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD). Consequently, the new technologies able to detect the reflux in the extra-esophageal regions have been strongly enhanced, and, at the same time, new therapeutic strategies have been developed [12].

The present study allowed us to pick out some interesting aspects, not properly reported in literature, very useful in view of a better understanding of mechanisms of LPR pathology.
The first topic concerns the age, which represents an important element to consider in LPR pathology. Our findings seem to confirm some previous studies [13,14] that emphasized a significant correlation between the increase of the age and the pepsin’s increase within the esophagus. Therefore, as the age increases, we should expect an increased predisposition to LPR.
Another important aspect, not reported in literature, states that each range of pepsin concentration in saliva meets specific symptoms more and more crippling.

Starting from pepsin’s level ≤ 100 ng/ml, the most frequently found symptoms are: 1-excess of pharyngeal mucus (36%) 2-throat “raclage” (20%); 3- throat foreign body sensation and/or swallowing problems (16%). The above mentioned symptoms represent the LPR’s onset symptoms. Despite these are “non specific” symptoms because common in several ENT pathologies, they are hardly ascribed, at a first glance, to an etiopathogenic mechanism originated in the gastric area. The same consideration can be made for those patients showing a pepsin level in the range 101-200 ng/ml, where it is possible (14%) to appreciate voice trouble (hoarse, dysphonia). The symptoms described above are just the inflammatory expression of the laryngopha- ryngeal mucosa, whose etiopathogenic mechanisms have been deepen just in the last few years. However, to see the symptoms related to the digestive tract, it is necessary to get higher pepsin value, between 201 and 300 ng/ml : at that level, a burning sensation behind the breastbone appeared in 17% of the patients. The low percentage of this disorder represents an additional confirmation that gastro-esophageal and laryngopharyngeal reflux are two different pathological situations. According to our clinical experience, the majority of patients suffering from LPR are unlikely to complain of gastric disorders, such as heartburn or acidity. Similarly, they are unlikely to report acid regurgitations events or digestion problems. Consequently, the existence itself of a laryngopharyngeal pathology is “de-legitimized”. Actually, within the same range of saliva pepsin’s values (e.g. 201-300 ng/ml), two important symptoms are frequently appreciated: the peevish cough and the laryngeal jerks (15%) [Figure 2,3]. They impair the patient’s quality of life during the daytime and even more during the sleeping hours. The diagnosis always helps the therapy! Those symptoms need to be related to LPR; otherwise, there will be a condition in which the patient keeps on consulting for many months several specialists (ENT, Respiratory Physician, Pediatrician, Gastroenterologist, Internist, Allergologist etc). That patient will undergo a number of useless and sometimes harmful examinations (chest examination, lungs CT scan, allergy and infectious diseases tests, endoscopies of the airways, etc.) usually followed by improper therapies (antibiotics, mucolytic, cough sedatives as well as anti-histamine, cortisone based drugs and bronchodilators). Whenever a peevish cough has appreciated (no fever-associated, long time lasting) in a patient who has not allergic disorders (or outside the pollen period), not using cough stimulating drugs (e.g. ACE inhibitors), then LPR must always be suspected by the physician. The laryngeal jerk often occurs during the sleeping hours; it is the expression of a defensive mechanism of the respiratory tract against the inhalation of acid vapors or juices coming from the stomach. Frequently, laryngeal jerk is misdiagnosed as an event caused by either an allergic crisis or croup. Therefore, it is recommended to carry out a careful anamnesis including the onset mode and the duration of the symptom.

Furthermore, there are some disorders rarely taken into consideration and potentially connected to LPR pathology, detected in patients with pepsin’s levels exceeding 300 ng/ml: fullness i.e. the muffled ear feeling (20%), hiccup, burping and conjunctiva disorders (13%).

The fullness, already described as a phenomenon deriving from an LPR pathology [19,23], is the expression of the congestion of the Eustachian tube mucosa, followed by the wrong ventilation of the middle ear. The correlation between LPR and auricular disorders has been reported by previous studies, even highlighting the presence of pepsin in the middle ear [19-28]. We are absolutely convinced that this mechanism does exist, to the extent of validating an endoscopic observation characterized by hyperemia of nasopharynx and of tube torus, we have included among the endoscopic signs of LPR’s suspicion. The rhino-pharyngeal region, including the middle ear, the sinus cavities and even the tear ducts and the conjunctiva, represent the anatomic “terminal” stations of a long “upwards” trip done by the gastric secretions both in liquid form and (even more) as an “aerosol”. This trip is enhanced by multiple factors, depending on anatomic condition (dilated cardia, hiatal hernia), dietary habits (refluxinducer food, carbonated drinks, etc.) and functional reasons (stress, sport activities etc.). Hiccup and burping, found in 13% of patients showing a pepsin’s value > 300 ng/ml, can definitely enhance the above-mentioned upward trip mechanism. The same consideration can be reported for the hyperemia of arytenoids, laryngeal part of epiglottis, palate and uvula pillars (intermediate stations). Another clinically important sign of LPR suspicion is the uvula edema. It usually occurs at the waking up time in the morning: it is responsible for emergency ward consultancies more often than other disease as allergic disorders.

In terms of correlation between RSI and pepsin concentration, we noticed that for the same scoring result, a high value of the single symptom is more predictive than the sum of many symptoms. Therefore, when a patient reports a high value of a particular symptom, he will have a high value of salivary pepsin.
Finally, as far as the hygienic-dietary rules are concerned, it is necessary to underline the importance of the diet [29]. Whichever drug treatment will be prescribed to the patient, no success can be achieved in terms of LPR therapy unless not supported by a convenient counseling aimed to detect and correct the bad dietary habits [Figure 4].

Therefore, it seems necessary to reconfirm the diagnostic efficacy of the PeptestTM, a test that could become the “Gold standard” in all cases of LPR pathology suspicion. It may allow revealing the symptoms of that pathology at its early onset, avoiding dealing with more invasive methods and helping to adopt the correct therapeutic follow-up as soon as possible.

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