Clinical features of Japanese patients with chronic cough induced by gastroesophageal reflux

Abstract

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) has been reported as a cause of chronic cough (CC) in the United States. It has been reported that 5-21% of CC cases are induced by GER. In Japan, however, detailed clinical features of CC induced by GER have not been described. The present study reports on six Japanese patients with GER-induced CC. The subjects were all females, with a mean age of 72 years. The average body mass index was 37kg/m², indicating obesity. No abnormalities were found with regard to concentrations of C-reactive protein, peripheral eosinophil counts, serum IgE concentrations, serum titers of cold agglutinins or antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae, chest radiograph findings, respiratory function tests or blood gas analyses. Bronchial biopsy was performed in three patients and showed chronic inflammation characterized by lymphocytic infiltration, squamous metaplasia and mucosal basement membrane thickening. In the study population (Japanese patients), GER-induced CC tended to occur in elderly obese women and may be attributable to airway inflammation.