Objective. To know the characteristics of endoscopic laryngeal and pharyngeal abnormalities in Japanese patients with
laryngopharyngeal reflux symptoms (LPRS). Methods. A total of 146 endoscopic images of the larynx and pharynx (60 pairs for the
rabeprazole group and 13 pairs for the control group) were presented to 15 otolaryngologists blinded to patient information and were scored according to several variables potentially associated with
laryngopharyngeal reflux. The median value of the 15 scores for each item from each image was obtained. The mean pretreatment scores of each item and total score were assessed in both
rabeprazole and control groups. In the
rabeprazole group, the endoscopic findings before and after the 4-week treatment with
rabeprazole were compared. Changes between corresponding duration in the control group were also evaluated. Results. The median and mean pretreatment total score was 3 and 3.02, respectively, from the 73 patients with LPRS. No significant differences were observed before and
after treatment in either the
rabeprazole or control groups for any item or total score. In 24 patients with a high pretreatment score (total score ≥ 4) from the
rabeprazole group, significant decreases in scores for "thick endolaryngeal mucous" (0.54 to 0.17, P = 0.017) and total (4.77 to 3.58, P = 0.0003) were observed after the 4-week treatment.