A recent study investigating the relationship between LPR and Allergic Rhinitis (AR) found a significant correlation, where there used to be doubt.

In this prospective, case-control study published in the International Archives of Allergy and Immunology, Chang et al. found that both the incidence and severity of AR are higher in patients who have an objective diagnosis of LPR obtained by Restech’s Dx-pH System.

A total of 102 patients with suspected LPR were included and divided into the “LPR +” group and the “LPR -” group according to the results of 24 hour Dx-pH monitoring. The influencing factors of LPR, including the ‘Score For Allergic Rhinitis’ (SFAR) and AR prevalence, were compared between the two groups.

They found that the total SFARs of the “LPR +” group were significantly higher than those of the “LPR -” group, and that the prevalence of AR in the LPR-positive group was 60%, vs. 36% in the LPR negative group. After excluding confounding factors, AR was positively correlated with the incidence of LPR, and the incidence of LPR with AR was 2.372 times that of non-AR. Receiver operating characteristic curve results show that AR has the highest predictive value for LPR, and the area of AR under the curve is 0.617.

The ability of Allergists and ENTs to use objective Restech testing in conjunction with patient surveys and symptom scores represents a significant step towards rapidly differentiating patients with Allergic Rhinitis from patients with LPR and, of course, those who suffer from both conditions as a comorbidity.

Contact your local Restech Representative to learn how objective Restech testing fits into your practice!