Reflux Band in Laryngopharyngeal Reflux

NCT ID: NCT04827355

Last Updated: 2025-04-08

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

72 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-05-07

Study Completion Date

2026-04-30

Brief Summary

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This 12 week biomarker targeted double blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) will enroll subjects with salivary pepsin positive laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) to assess efficacy of the external upper esophageal sphincter (UES) compression device, also known as the Reflux Band. Subjects will be randomized to one of two arms: control or experimental. Following the 8 week intervention period subjects in both arms will continue in a 4 week unblinded period. The primary hypothesis is that a significantly higher proportion of subjects in the experimental arm will meet the primary endpoint for symptom response, compared to subjects in the control arm.

Detailed Description

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This study seeks to understand if the Reflux Band is an effective treatment for laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) in comparison to a sham device. LPR is a syndrome in which acid that is made in the stomach travels up the esophagus and into the throat, causing chronic symptoms including throat clearing, voice hoarseness, sore throat, etc. Participation in the study may or may not benefit you directly, and may result in new knowledge that may help others.

Participation in this study involves: 3 - 4 in person visits (2 of which are part of standard of care) ranging from 30 - 45 minutes each and 2 virtual visits, either by phone or video, each 15 minutes. Participants are assigned with a 50/50 chance (similar to a coin flip) via a computer generator to receive the Reflux Band or sham device (a device that will not provide you medical therapy) which they will wear around their neck nightly while sleeping (6+ hours) over a duration of 8 weeks. The Reflux Band, which has been cleared for use by the FDA, applies pressure to the outside of the neck at the cricoid cartilage, at the middle of the neck, and increases the internal pressure of the muscle separating the throat from the esophagus (upper esophageal sphincter). Participants will only wear the band while sleeping at night and remove in the morning upon waking. The in person visits will occur at one of these UCSD La Jolla locations: the Perlman Medical Office Gastroenterology clinic, the Center for Voice and Swallowing, Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute (ACTRI) Clinic.

There is an optional 4 week extension at the end of this study in which the Reflux Band will be refit (if sham) to provide the manufacturer's specified pressure. This portion contains 1 virtual follow up during week 10 and an in person follow up during week 12, at which time study participation will conclude.

The most commonly expected risks of the study are skin reaction, discomfort, and difficulty sleeping. These were generally mild and short in duration. No serious risks were observed when the Reflux Band was worn around the neck in previous studies.

Conditions

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Laryngopharyngeal Reflux

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Subjects will be randomized to one of two arms: control or experimental. Randomization will be 1:1 to control (sham, known not to provide intervention) and experimental (fit to manufacturer guidelines).
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Control

Participants allocated to the control arm will be fit with the UES Compression Device at a pressure known not to provide intervention.

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham Device

Intervention Type DEVICE

External Upper Esophageal Sphincter (UES) Compression Device fit to pressure known not to provide treatment.

Experimental

Participants allocated to the experimental arm will be fit with the UES Compression Device according to manufacturer guidelines.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

External Upper Esophageal Sphincter (UES) Compression Device

Intervention Type DEVICE

External Upper Esophageal Sphincter (UES) Compression Device fit to manufacturer guidelines.

Interventions

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External Upper Esophageal Sphincter (UES) Compression Device

External Upper Esophageal Sphincter (UES) Compression Device fit to manufacturer guidelines.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham Device

External Upper Esophageal Sphincter (UES) Compression Device fit to pressure known not to provide treatment.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Other Intervention Names

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Reflux Band Reza Band

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Adults between 18-99, English or Spanish speaking
* ≥8 weeks of laryngeal symptoms (dysphonia, throat clearing, cough, globus, and/or sore throat)
* Current use of double daily dose acid suppression therapy (ex. omeprazole 40mg, omeprazole 20mg and famotidine 20mg)
* Laryngoscopic exam prior to screening with current symptoms
* At least 1 of the following:

* Elevated reflux testing
* Findings on upper endoscopy that are consistent with pathologic GERD
* Fasting pepsin analysis result of ≥25 ng/mL within 4 months of enrollment (12 months if treatment plan has not changed) \*testing allowed at enrollment if not previously obtained

Exclusion Criteria

* Prior use of Reflux Band (UES Compression Device)
* Sino-pulmonary conditions (such as asthma, COPD, post-nasal drip, heavy voice use) as primary etiology of laryngeal symptoms as deemed by treating gastroenterologist and / or laryngologist
* Laryngeal mass or lesion on laryngoscopy
* Pregnant or breastfeeding
* Unable to consent in English or Spanish
* Imprisoned
* Patients with a prior foregut surgery
* Patients with a known achalasia diagnosis
* Inability to fast for 4 hours
* Active tobacco use
* Supplemental oxygen use
* Contraindication to UES Compression Device manufacturer guidelines:
* Patients with implants or implant parts that reside in the area where Reflux Band is applied: implanted pacemarker, implanted cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), vagus nerve stimulator (VNS), or other such devices implanted in the neck
* Patients diagnosed with glaucoma.
* Patients who had a malignancy of the neck, including neck surgery.
* Patients that may have an altered mental status including due to the use of sedative drugs or narcotics.
* Patients with carotid artery disease, uncontrolled thyroid disease, a history of cerebrovascular disease, or connective tissue disorder of Marfan's Syndrome or Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
* Patients who use nocturnal NIV machines such as CPAP or BiPAP.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

99 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

NIH

Sponsor Role collaborator

University of California, San Diego

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Rena Yadlapati

Professor of Clinical Medicine

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Rena Yadlapati, MD, MSHS

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

UC San Diego Health

Locations

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University of California, San Diego

La Jolla, California, United States

Site Status

Countries

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United States

References

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Vakil N, van Zanten SV, Kahrilas P, Dent J, Jones R; Global Consensus Group. The Montreal definition and classification of gastroesophageal reflux disease: a global evidence-based consensus. Am J Gastroenterol. 2006 Aug;101(8):1900-20; quiz 1943. doi: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2006.00630.x.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16928254 (View on PubMed)

Olson NR. Laryngopharyngeal manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 1991 Oct;24(5):1201-13.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 1754220 (View on PubMed)

Cohen SM, Pitman MJ, Noordzij JP, Courey M. Management of dysphonic patients by otolaryngologists. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2012 Aug;147(2):289-94. doi: 10.1177/0194599812440780. Epub 2012 Feb 24.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22368039 (View on PubMed)

Ruiz R, Jeswani S, Andrews K, Rafii B, Paul BC, Branski RC, Amin MR. Hoarseness and laryngopharyngeal reflux: a survey of primary care physician practice patterns. JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2014 Mar;140(3):192-6. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2013.6533.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24481258 (View on PubMed)

Litvinov AV. [Method of tracheobronchial spraying of drugs in aerosols]. Vestn Khir Im I I Grek. 1976 Jan;116(1):100-1. No abstract available. Russian.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 1020172 (View on PubMed)

de Bortoli N, Nacci A, Savarino E, Martinucci I, Bellini M, Fattori B, Ceccarelli L, Costa F, Mumolo MG, Ricchiuti A, Savarino V, Berrettini S, Marchi S. How many cases of laryngopharyngeal reflux suspected by laryngoscopy are gastroesophageal reflux disease-related? World J Gastroenterol. 2012 Aug 28;18(32):4363-70. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i32.4363.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22969200 (View on PubMed)

Shaker R, Babaei A, Naini SR. Prevention of esophagopharyngeal reflux by augmenting the upper esophageal sphincter pressure barrier. Laryngoscope. 2014 Oct;124(10):2268-74. doi: 10.1002/lary.24735. Epub 2014 Jun 27.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 24782387 (View on PubMed)

Slivers SL, Vaezi MF, Vakil MB, et al. Prospective study of upper esophageal sphincter assist device for treating extraesophageal reflux. Otolaryngol Open J. 2016; 2(1): 31-38. doi: 10.17140/OTLOJ-2-109

Reference Type RESULT

Yadlapati R, Craft J, Adkins CJ, Pandolfino JE. The Upper Esophageal Sphincter Assist Device Is Associated With Symptom Response in Reflux-Associated Laryngeal Symptoms. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2018 Oct;16(10):1670-1672. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2018.01.031. Epub 2018 Jan 31.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 29408585 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

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Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Other Identifiers

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K23DK125266

Identifier Type: NIH

Identifier Source: secondary_id

View Link

201945

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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