A POSSIBLE ROLE OF HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION IN THE ETIOLOGY OF CHRONIC LARYNGITIS

In order to study a possible role of Helicobacter pylori infection in chronic laryngitis, we performed endoscopic and histological assessmen ts in addition to a urease test for the bacterium in 35 patients with chronic hoarseness. Six of the patients investigated (17.1%) revealed a positive urease test of the laryngeal biopsy (four male and two fema le patients). These H. pylori-positive patients were treated with omep razole and an antibiotic regimen using clarithromycin and metronidazol e. This led to an eradication of the H. pylori and resolution of clini cal signs and symptoms. These findings show a possible role of H. pylo ri infection in the etiology of chronic laryngitis in certain patients and can be important for clinical diagnosis and treatment.