Table 2. Comparison of MII-pH variables between patients with refractory GERC who responded to each step of the therapy.
| Variable | First step (n=29) | Second step (n=13) | Third step (n=38) |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeMeester score | 85.1±18.8*∆ | 36.3±15.2 | 29.9±9.2 |
| SAP for acidic reflux (%) | 82.1 (33.4) | 76.7 (70.7) | 75.3 (39.0) |
| SAP for nonacidic reflux (%) | 61.0 (80.3) | 95.5 (18.5) | 69.1 (53.0) |
| Acid reflux (n) | 63.7±13.7*∆ | 20.7±3.2 | 21.6±4.1 |
| Weakly acidic reflux (n) | 46.8±6.8∆ | 45.2±14.6∆ | 27.7±7.4 |
| Weakly alkaline reflux (n) | 10.7±2.8 | 16.6±5.0 | 12.8±4.6 |
| Gas reflux (n) | 23.9±8.1 | 23.9±11.6 | 28.9±13.9 |
| Liquid reflux (n) | 25.1±7.1 | 21.6±3.4 | 18.5±3.5 |
| Mixed reflux (n) | 76.4±14.7 | 45.2±12.3 | 55.4±18.8 |
| Proximal extent (n) | 19.3±4.7 | 18.0±4.3 | 18.5±4.8 |
| Bolus exposure (%) | 1.4±0.2 | 1.2±0.1 | 1.3±0.2 |
| Bolus clearance (s) | 9.2±2.1 | 8.4±1.9 | 7.5±1.7 |
*, P<0.05 vs. second step; ∆, P<0.05 vs. third step. The data are expressed as mean ± SD except for SAP, which was expressed as median (interquartile). GERC, gastroesophageal reflux-induced chronic cough; SAP, symptom association probability.