GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX, MOTILITY DISORDERS, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL PROFILES IN THE ETIOLOGY OF GLOBUS PHARYNGIS

The aim of this study was to investigate the origin of globus pharyngi s with particular reference to esophageal disorders such as gastroesop hageal reflux disease (GERD), motility disorders, structural abnormali ties, other gastrointestinal tract diseases, and psychological profile . Previous studies on this subject using 24-hour pH monitoring give co nflicting results and are hampered by the high background prevalence o f asymptomatic GERD in the normal Western population. The local Chines e population is known to have a very low background level of GERD and therefore is an ideal study population, Twenty-six patients with globu s pharyngis underwent 24-hour ambulatory pH monitoring, esophageal man ometry, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy with lower esophageal biopsy. A control group of 20 patients presenting with non-ulcer dyspepsia was similarly investigated. Personality profiles of the globus pharyngis s ubjects and an appropriate control group were assessed. Eight of the g lobus pharyngis group (30.7%) had evidence of GERD, whereas only one o f the controls (5%) demonstrated GERD on 24-hour esophageal pH monitor ing (P < 0.05). The manometric and personality profile studies did not show significant differences between study and control groups. We con cluded that the finding of GERD in patients with globus pharyngis is n ot a coincidental finding but that there is a true association between GERD and globus pharyngis.