Clinical predictors for response to proton pump inhibitor treatment in patients with globus.
OBJECTIVE
Globus is a persistent or intermittent non-painful sensation of a lump or foreign body in the throat. Given the benign nature of the condition and the association of gastroesophageal reflux disease, empirical therapy with proton pump inhibitor seems reasonable for patients with typical globus. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical predictors for symptom response to short-term proton pump inhibitor treatment in patients with globus symptom.


METHODS
Fifty-four patients with globus symptom were enrolled prospectively. All patients were treated with pantoprazole 40 mg daily for 4 weeks. Treatment response was defined as a > 50% reduction in symptom scores between symptom assessments. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis between responders and non-responders was performed to identify variables predicting response to pantoprazole treatment.


RESULTS
Of the 54 consecutive patients considered, 13 were excluded on the basis of exclusion criteria and/or refusal to participate in the study. Finally, 41 patients were included in this study. After 4-week pantoprazole treatment, 22 patients (53.7%) were classified as responders. On multivariate analysis, the presence of reflux symptom was associated with a higher response rate to 4-week pantoprazole treatment (OR, 68.56; P = 0.043), and long symptom duration (≥ 3 months) were associated with a lower response rate to pantoprazole treatment (OR, 0.03; P = 0.034).


CONCLUSIONS
Presence of reflux symptom and short symptom duration were independent predictors of responsiveness to 4-week pantoprazole treatment in patients with globus.
Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
Hye Kyung
HK
Jeon
Gwang Ha
GH
Kim
Mun Ki
MK
Choi
Jae Hoon
JH
Cheong
Dong Hoon
DH
Baek
Gwang Jae
GJ
Lee
Hang Mi
HM
Lee
Bong Eun
BE
Lee
Geun Am
GA
Song
Clinical predictor; Gastroesophageal reflux; Globus; Proton pump inhibitors