DOES A HELICOBACTER-PYLORI-ASSOCIATED CHR ONIC LARYNGITIS EXIST

H. pylori is found in the stomach of patients with chronic gastritis. The infection is usually-transmitted by the gastro-oral route and bact eria could be identified in saliva and dental plaque. An essential cau se of chronic laryngitis is gastroesophageal reflux. The aim of the st udy was to evaluate if a H. pylori-associated chronic laryngitis exist s. 38 patients with chronic laryngitis underwent gastroscopy. Biopsies were taken from the gastric antrum and body; lower middle and upper e sophagus. H. pylori was diagnosed by rapid urease test and histology. 14 of the patients (36,8%) were H. pylori-positive, but the bacteria c ould not be identified between stomach and larynx. 24 patients were H. pylori-negative. Seven patients (18.4%) suffered from esophagitis six of these patients were H. pylori-negative. The H. pylori-infected pat ients received triple therapy for one week in case of esophagitis Omep razole 20 mg BID was prescribed. Six weeks later a follow-up endoscopy was performed. The eradication rate was 12/14 (85.7%), in all patient s with reflux the esophagitis was cured. The laryngitis was clinically and endoscopically unchanged in ten of the twelve (83.3%) patients af ter successful treatment for H. pylori; in the remaining two patients as well as in the two H. pylori-positive patients the laryngitis was i mproved. In six out of the seven patients with esophagitis the laryngi tis had healed completely and was improved in the remaining patient. I t may be concluded that there is no evidence for the existence of H. p ylori-associated laryngitis, suggesting that acid reflux is the underl ying etiology.