Does Helicobacter pylori treatment improve the symptoms of globus hystericus?

BACKGROUND/AIMS Globus hystericus is a feeling of tension in the throat, irrelevant of swallowing, persisting for at least 12 weeks. Since the cause of globus hystericus is not fully described, the treatment is controversial. We aimed in this study to determine the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, upper gastrointestinal endoscopic findings, prevalence of Helicobacter pylori,and post-treatment symptoms (symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux and/or Helicobacter pylori) in patients with a diagnosis of globus hystericus. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred twenty three patients were recruited from the archives of the Department of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy at Celal Bayar University Medical School between January 2009 and August 2010. RESULTS Helicobacter pylori was positive in 75 (60%) of 123 patients with globus hystericus. Helicobacter pylori (+) patients had significantly more heartburn, regurgitation, and inlet patch in upper esophagus than Helicobacter pylori (-) patients. Significantly more Helicobacter pylori (-) patients had normal endoscopy findings when compared to Helicobacter pylori (+) patients. While 27 (50%) of Helicobacter pylori-eradicated patients had regressing globus symptoms, 12 (17.3%) of them did not have any regression in globus symptoms. Improvement in symptoms showed a positive correlation with Helicobacter pylori eradication (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS Helicobacter pylori rate among cases with globus sensation was similar to values in the general population. Helicobacter pylori eradication was found to decrease globus symptoms.