Management of laryngopharyngeal reflux: an unmet medical need.

Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is defined by the association of laryngeal symptoms with laryngeal inflammation at laryngoscopy. However, these symptoms are difficult to characterize and the laryngoscopic signs lack specificity. Moreover, to date, the diagnosis of LPR can rely neither on esophageal investigations (endoscopy, pH/impedance monitoring) nor on response to high dose proton pump inhibitors because of a high placebo effect. Therefore, there is a need for the development of new tools which may help to better identify the subgroup of patients with laryngeal symptoms related to supra-esophageal reflux.