Original Study

A new treatment option for laryngeal sensory neuropathy†‡

  1. Stacey L. Halum MD*,
  2. David L. Sycamore MD,
  3. Bryan R. McRae MD

Article first published online: 24 JUN 2009

DOI: 10.1002/lary.20553

Issue

The Laryngoscope

The Laryngoscope

Volume 119, Issue 9, pages 1844–1847, September 2009

Additional Information

How to Cite

Halum, S. L., Sycamore, D. L. and McRae, B. R. (2009), A new treatment option for laryngeal sensory neuropathy. The Laryngoscope, 119: 1844–1847. doi: 10.1002/lary.20553

Author Information

  1. Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A.

*Indiana University, Dept. of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Indianapolis, IN 46202

  1. †

    Presented for the American Broncho-Esophagological Association (ABEA), Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meeting, Orlando, Florida, U.S.A., May 1–4, 2008.

  2. ‡

    This study was supported in part by a National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIH/NIDCD) T32 training grant. None of the authors has any financial disclosures pertaining to this study.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 27 AUG 2009
  2. Article first published online: 24 JUN 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 30 APR 2009

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (87K)

Keywords:

  • Laryngeal sensory neuropathy;
  • vagal neuropathy;
  • pregabalin;
  • gabapentin

Abstract

Objectives/Hypothesis:

Laryngeal sensory neuropathy (LSN) may produce a variety of symptoms, including chronic cough, globus sensation, odynophonia, and/or odynophagia. Etiologies are often iatrogenic, viral, or idiopathic, although the diagnosis is generally one of exclusion. The aim of this study is to introduce pregabalin (Lyrica, Pfizer Inc., New York, NY) as a potential new therapy for LSN.

Study Design:

Retrospective clinical investigation.

Methods:

Charts were reviewed from 12 consecutive patients who were prescribed pregabalin for symptoms of LSN. Outcomes were reviewed by analyzing pre and post-treatment questionnaires asking patients to rate symptoms on a scale from 0 to 5. Adverse effects and evidence of drug tolerance were also recorded.

Results:

Two patients did not tolerate pregabalin due to somnolence. Of those that tolerated the medication, mean pretreatment chief complaint symptom severity rating was 3.9, whereas mean post-treatment symptom rating was 1.2 after 1 month of pregabalin therapy. None of the patients developed drug tolerance effects over time.

Conclusions:

Pregabalin therapy appears to be an effective treatment option for laryngeal sensory neuropathy. Future prospective studies are needed to compare outcomes between pregabalin and other medications as treatments for LSN. Laryngoscope, 2009

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (87K)