A case of vocal cord leukoplakia caused by gastroesophageal reflux following whooping cough
Hideto Oshita Noriaki Ito Misato Senoo Kunihiko Funaishi Kohei Kawasaki Ken Okusaki
Department of Internal Medicine, Mihara Medical Association Hospital
A 35-year-old man developed paroxysmal cough, hoarseness, and fever. Whooping cough was strongly suspected because of high serum anti-pertussis toxin antibody titers. Although the patient was administered macrolide antibiotics, paroxysmal cough with prolonged vomiting ensued and was eventually complicated with pneumonia due to microaspiration. Bronchoscopic examination revealed leukoplakia and atrophy in the left vocal cord and glottic closure impairment. We hypothesized that the vocal cord lesions were caused by a cough-reflux self-perpetuating positive feedback cycle. Treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease resulted in an improvement in symptoms and disappearance of the vocal cord lesions.
Whooping cough Vocal cord leukoplakia Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) Laryngopharyngeal reflux disease
Received 10 May 2019 / Accepted 18 Jun 2019
AJRS, 8(5): 340-343, 2019