Chest
Clinical Investigations: Miscellaneous: Clinical Trial: Journal Article: Randomized Controlled TrialChronic Cough Due to Gastroesophageal Reflux: Clinical, Diagnostic, and Pathogenetic Aspects
Section snippets
Study Design
First, we prospectively and fully characterized immunocompetent patients from upper gastrointestinal as well as respiratory standpoints who were consecutively referred with chronic cough of unknown cause and whose cough was deemed likely to be due to GER after a standard diagnostic workup.1, 4 Second, we objectively counted coughs during the distal esophageal infusion of 0.1 N HCl or 0.9 percent saline solution administered in a randomized, double-blind, standardized fashion.6 Third, we
Characteristics of Study Group
From Dec 11, 1989 to Sept 4, 1990, 12 consecutive and unselected patients who were referred for evaluation and whose chronic cough remained persistent after a standard diagnostic workup underwent our study protocol. Each had normal or near-normal chest radiographs; none were smoking or taking an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor; none had their coughs disappear with specific treatment for postnasal drip syndrome and/or asthma; and all had abnormal prolonged EPM sessions and/or barium
Discussion
From our study on this well-characterized, homogeneous group of patients, five findings emerged that expand our clinical and pathophysiologic knowledge as well as pathogenetic understanding of chronic cough due to GER.
First, we have reconfirmed that GER can be the sole cause of chronic cough1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and that chronic cough can be the sole presenting manifestation of GERD.2 This was based on laboratory studies (eg, prolonged EPM and barium esophagography) that were consistent with GER as the
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors thank Peter I. Hoffman, R.R.T., and Stephen E. Olson, R.R.T., for their technical assistance.
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Cited by (0)
Presented in part at the Annual Meeting of the American Thoracic Society, Anaheim, Calif, May 15, 1991 (Am Rev Respir Dis 1991; 143, p 2: A534).