LETTER

Reflux associated cough is usually not associated with reflux: role of reduced cough threshold

L Benini¹, M Ferrari¹, G Talamini¹ and I Vantini¹

¹ Department of Biomedical and Surgical Sciences, Policlinico GB Rossi, Verona, Italy

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr L Benini
Department of Biomedical and Surgical Sciences, Policlinico GB Rossi, Piazzale Scuro 1, 37134 Verona, Italy; luigi.benini@univr.it

Keywords: gastro-oesophageal reflux; cough; cough threshold; weakly acidic reflux

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

We read with great interest the article by Sifrim and colleagues (Gut 2005;54:449–54) addressing the issue of the importance of weakly acidic reflux (as measured by 24 hour ambulatory pressure and pH impedance monitoring) in patients with chronic cough. The presence of asthma, postnasal drip, or use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors was ruled out so that an association with gastro-oesophageal reflux was probable. They found that only 15% of cough bursts were preceded by reflux episodes, which in 4% of cases were weakly acidic and therefore not detectable by conventional automated analysis of oesophageal pH tracings. Although the temporal relationship between acid or weakly acidic reflux and cough was highly significant, it could not be demonstrated in most episodes. In this respect their findings are in agreement with a previous study by Laukka and colleagues,¹ who also used manometry for a more accurate timing of . . . [Full text of this article]

L Dupont², K Blondeau² and D Sifrim²

² Department of Pneumology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Professor L Dupont
Department of Pneumology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Lieven.Dupont@uz.kuleuven.ac.be

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Relevant Article

Weakly acidic reflux in patients with chronic unexplained cough during 24 hour pressure, pH, and impedance monitoring

D Sifrim, L Dupont, K Blondeau, X Zhang, J Tack, and J Janssens
Gut 2005 54: 449-454. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

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