Treatment of extraesophageal manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Extraesophageal manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) include chronic cough, asthma and 'acid' laryngitis. The response to medical and/or surgical therapy of these conditions is highly variable and often delayed. Of patients with GERD-related symptoms, those with extraesophageal manifestations are some of the most difficult to treat. Histamine antagonists, proton pump inhibitors and antireflux surgery have all been used to treat GERD-related asthma with variable results. Asthma patients who do not respond to high-dose acid suppression may be refractory to all forms of therapy. GERD is the third most common cause of chronic cough, and therapeutic results with acid suppression and antireflux surgery are variable. Posterior laryngitis presents as chronic hoarseness and has been shown to resolve clinically and histologically with acid suppression therapy or antireflux surgery. Results are variable, and controlled trials are lacking.