Association between Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease and Chronic Sinusitis: Salivary and Nasal Pepsin as a Biomarker

Background: The relationship between gastroesophageal reflux [GER] and chronic rhinosinusitis [CRS] has been discussed in several studies, but a direct relationship could not be established. However, both conditions are highly prevalent. Aim of the work: The study aimed to evaluate the nasal and salivary pepsin as a biomarker for GER in CRS patients.Patients and Methods: Fifty patients with CRS were included; 28 males and 22 females, and 50 healthy volunteers; 25 males and 25 females served as controls. Peptest was performed for all subjects.Results: Pepsin positivity was found to have a slight increase in CRS salivary samples than the control group. However, the difference was insignificant [P >0.05], in contrast with nasal samples, which was estimated to have a statistically significant difference [P <0.05] in the second and third samples. As regard pepsin concentration in salivary samples, it was found to show a statistically significant difference [P <0.01] in all samples, while it was non-significant in all nasal samples [P>0.05].Conclusion: CRS patients have a higher positive rate of pepsin in salivary and nasal secretions; however, no significant more pepsin in saliva or nasal secretions is regarded as CRS-patients than healthy controls.