Gastroesophageal reflux disease and chronic sinusitis: In search of an esophageal-nasal reflex

Ian Wong, Guy Rees, Lennart Greiff, Jennifer Myers, Glyn Jamieson, Peter Wormald

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    53 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Background: This study was performed to explore whether or not a neural reflex linking the esophagus and the nasal airway exists, as a pathogenic mechanism accounting for the association between gastroesophageal reflux (GER) disease and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). A prospective trial of healthy human volunteers was performed. Methods: Ten healthy volunteers without GER or sinonasal disease were investigated using an acid infusion challenge test. Normal saline and hydrochloric acid were infused into the lower esophagus through an esophageal manometry catheter. Nasal responses in symptom score, nasal inspiratory peak flow, and mucus production were analyzed after the esophageal challenge. Results: A tendency for an increase in nasal mucus production was observed after esophageal stimulation with both normal saline and HCl. This returned to baseline level 45 minutes after the acid infusion. A similar trend was also observed with the measurements of nasal symptom scores and, to a lesser extent, nasal inspiratory peak flow. Conclusion: These results support the possibility that a neural reflex exists between the esophagus and the paranasal sinuses via the vagus nerve. If indeed present, the reflex-mediated rhinitis derived from this neuropathic inflammation may contribute to the development of CRS in patients with GER. Further study is required to define the relationship between GER and CRS.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)255-259
    Number of pages5
    JournalAmerican Journal of Rhinology & Allergy
    Volume24
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Jul 2010

    Keywords

    • Chronic rhinosinusitis
    • Esophageal-nasal reflex
    • Gastroesophageal reflux
    • Neural reflex
    • Neuropathic inflammation
    • Reflex-mediated rhinitis
    • Vagus

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