Post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave index and mean nocturnal baseline impedance predict proton pump inhibitor response in patients with reflux hypersensitivity.

Background and aim: Post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave (PSPW) index and mean nocturnal baseline impedance (MNBI) have been shown to influence proton pump inhibitor (PPI) response in GERD patients. However, currently, little data concerning these variables in patients with reflux hypersensitivity (RH) are available. In this study, we aimed to evaluate, in RH patients, the prevalence of PPI responders and nonresponders and investigate the predictive value of impedance-pH variables, including PSPW and MNBI, on responses to PPI.

Methods: A total of 108 RH patients who met ROME IV criteria were prospectively recruited from June 2018 to December 2022. The prevalence of PPI responders/nonresponders was calculated, and impedance-pH variables were compared between the response and nonresponse groups. Multiple logistic regression was used to investigate predictors for PPI response.

Results: Among 108 patients with RH, 60 patients (55.56%) were the PPI responders, and 48 (44.44%) were the nonresponders. Compared with the nonresponders, the PPI responders had a lower PSPW index (47.05 ± 4.43 vs 51.33 ± 3.50, P = 0.004) and a decreased value of MNBI (1866.68 ± 390.62 vs 2181.14 ± 338.42, P = 0.017). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that only the pathologic PSPW index (OR: 2.064) and MNBI (OR: 1.800) significantly influenced PPI response.

Conclusions: Nearly half of RH patients were PPI nonresponders. Impedance-pH monitoring was more valuable than pH-only monitoring in associating PPI response to reflux in RH patients owing to the appraisal of the PSPW index and MNBI.