Overview of medical therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease

A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review of the Efficacy of Twice Daily PPIs versus Once Daily for Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Background

To investigate whether PPIs BID is superior to QD for treatment of GERD in a short time.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, EMBASE, Ovid, EBSCO, and Web of Science databases (from 1998 to May 2016) to select RCTs, which compared the efficacy of PPIs BID versus QD for GERD. The primary outcomes were symptom relief or esophageal mucosal healing at weeks 4 and 8. The M-H method with fixed-effect or random-effect model was used to calculate RR and 95% CIs.

Results

Seven RCTs were enrolled. The esophageal healing rates were higher in PPIs BID group (P = 0.01), and rabeprazole 20 mg BID can achieve better mucosal healing than 20 mg QD after 8 weeks (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed in heartburn relief (P = 0.27), sustained symptom relief rates at week 4 (P = 0.05), 24 h pH monitoring after treatment (P = 0.11), endoscopic response at week 4 (P = 0.22), and adverse events (P = 0.18).

Conclusion

PPIs BID more effectively improve endoscopic healing rate at week 8 than PPIs QD. But there are no significant differences in symptom relief, 24 h pH monitoring, sustained symptom relief, and endoscopic response at week 4.

Treating acid reflux disease in patients with Down syndrome: pharmacological and physiological approaches

Down syndrome (DS) is often accompanied by gastrointestinal disease, occurring mainly in early infancy and frequently requiring therapy. Among motility disorders, the most frequent is gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which may often be misdiagnosed because of its atypical manifestations. Early diagnosis of esophageal functional disorders is essential to prevent respiratory problems, growth retardation in children, weight loss in adults, and to establish the correct type of surgery if needed. Furthermore, the involvement of the enteric nervous system in the pathophysiology of GERD in DS is not yet completely understood but seems supported by much evidence. In fact DS is often associated with motor disorders and this evidence must be considered in the choice of therapy: in particular all options available to improve motility seem to be effective in these patients. The effectiveness of therapy is strictly related to the rate of mental impairment, so that modulating therapy is essential, especially in view of the severity of the neurological status.

Addition of a H2 receptor antagonist to PPI improves acid control and decreases nocturnal acid breakthrough

BACKGROUND

The addition of a bedtime H2 receptor antagonist (H2RA) to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) b.i.d. to inhibit nocturnal acid breakthrough (NAB) is controversial. H2RA tolerance has been documented suggesting limitations in its long-term effect.

AIM

To compare the intragastric pH and NAB occurring with twice daily PPI with or without the addition of a H2RA.

METHOD

Multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH studies in 100 patients were reviewed. Fifty-eight patients (female 41; mean age, 54 y; range, 17 to 85) were studied on twice daily PPI. Forty-two patients (female 36; mean age, 53 y; range 20 to 85) were studied on a PPI b.i.d.+H2RA for at least 1 month at bedtime. The percentage time of intragastric pH<4 (upright, recumbent, and total) and NAB were compared between the groups.

RESULTS

In the patients with PPI b.i.d. 64% had NAB, compared with only 17% of patients on PPI b.i.d. and H2RA q.h.s. (P<0.001). The percent time intragastric pH<4 for patients on PPI b.i.d. was significantly higher (P<0.01) compared with patients on PPI b.i.d.+H2RA q.h.s. during upright (29.1+/-3.0 vs. 18.3+/-2.9), recumbent (33.5+/-3.4 vs. 12.5+/-3.1), and entire period (31.5+/-2.8 vs. 18.0+/-3.0).

CONCLUSIONS

The addition of a bedtime H2RA reduces the percentage time of the intragastric pH<4 and also NAB. H2RA should be considered as adjunct therapy in whom greater suppression of gastric acid control is considered desirable.

Is there a changing trend in surgical management of gastroesophageal reflux disease in children?

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is a pathological process in infants manifesting as poor weight gain, signs of esophagitis, persistent respiratory symptoms and changes in neurobehaviour. It is currently estimated that approximately one in every 350 children will experience severe symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux necessitating surgical treatment. Surgery for GORD is currently one of the common major operations performed in infants and children. Most of the studies found favour laparoscopic approach which has surpassed open antireflux surgery as the gold standard of surgical management for GORD. However, it must be interpreted with caution due to the limitation of the studies, especially the small number of subject included in these studies. This review reports the changing trends in the surgical treatment of GORD in children.

The effect of laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication on laryngeal findings and voice quality

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to report the need for an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist to evaluate the laryngeal findings and the voice quality of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) symptoms before and after surgery.

METHODS

For this study, 38 GERD patients who had a Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) score higher than 14 underwent complete assessment in the ENT department. Standard 24-h pH monitoring, esophageal motility assessment, a detailed ENT examination including the RSI, the Reflux Finding Score (RFS), and objective voice analysis were performed for all the patients before reflux surgery, then 6 to 8 months afterward.

RESULTS

The subject's mean RSI scores were 25.45 +/- 7.5 before and 16.52 +/- 5.06 after surgery (p < 0.05), and the mean RFS scores were, respectively, 10.37 +/- 2.7 and 5.5 +/- 1.45 (p < 0.05). The pre- and postoperative differences in the RSI and RFS scores and the voice parameters were statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Objective voice analysis, RSI, and RFS can be used to evaluate the postoperative results for GERD patients with LPR symptoms. Examination of these patients by an ENT specialist is necessary before and after the operation.

Effects of a 5-HT(4) receptor agonist on oesophageal function and gastro-oesophageal reflux: studies using combined impedance-manometry and combined impedance-pH

BACKGROUND

5-HT(4) receptor agonists are used as promotility agents of the stomach, small and large intestine. There is limited information on the influence of 5-HT(4) receptor agonists on oesophageal function and gastro-oesophageal reflux.

AIM

To evaluate the effects of tegaserod, a 5-HT(4) agonist on oesophageal function using impedance-manometry and postprandial reflux using impedance-pH monitoring.

METHODS

Twenty healthy volunteers were enrolled in a double-blind randomized three-period crossover placebo-controlled study. Impedance-manometry and impedance-pH monitoring after a refluxogenic meal were performed at baseline and after 2 days of dosing with tegaserod 6 mg b.d. or placebo. Multichannel intraluminal impedance-EM recorded pressure and bolus transit data during standardized swallows. Multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH monitoring recorded the number of 2-h postprandial acid and non-acid reflux episodes.

RESULTS

We found no significant difference in distal oesophageal amplitude when subjects received placebo (median 94.5; range: 53-243 mmHg) or tegaserod (93.6; 43-216 mmHg). Bolus transit time was similar during dosing with placebo (7.1; 5.3-9.4 s) and tegaserod (7.2; 5.9-11.1 s). We observed similar numbers of acid and non-acid reflux episodes during dosing with placebo (5; 0-15 and 3; 0-18, respectively) and tegaserod (2; 0-11 and 4; 0-19, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Tegaserod, a 5-HT(4) receptor agonist does not change oesophageal motility and gastro-oesophageal reflux parameters in healthy volunteers.

Effect of itopride, a new prokinetic, in patients with mild GERD: A pilot study

AIM: Itopride is a newly developed prokinetic agent, which enhances gastric motility through both antidopaminergic and anti-acetylcholinesterasic actions. The importance of esophageal motor dysfunction in the pathogenesis of gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) makes it interesting to examine the effect of itopride on esophageal acid exposure.

METHODS: The effect of itopride on esophageal acid reflux variables for 24 h was studied in 26 patients with GERD symptoms, pre-entry total acid exposure time (pH<4) of more than 5% and mild esophagitis (Savary-Miller grades I, II) proven by endoscopy. Ambulatory 24-h pH-metry and symptom assessment were performed after treatments with 150 or 300 mg itopride thrice a day (t.i. d.) for 30 d in random order, using an open label method. For evaluating the safety of itopride, blood biochemical laboratory test was performed and the serum prolactin level was also examined before and after treatment.

RESULTS: Total symptom score was significantly decreased after treatment in 150- or 300-mg group. Itopride 300 mg was significantly effective than 150 mg on decreasing the total per cent time with pH < 4, total time with pH < 4 and DeMeester score. No serious adverse effects were observed with administration of itopride in both groups.

CONCLUSION: Itopride 100 mg t.i.d. is effective on decreasing pathologic reflux in patient with GERD and therefore it has the potential to be effective in the treatment of this disease.

Cost-minimization analysis of treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Implications of varying holding time on conclusions

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a common disorder. The most effective medical treatment for GERD is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). The aim of this study was to specify the most inexpensive PPI therapy for GERD, and to examine the implications of varying outcome measure, holding time, on the conclusions about the cost-effectiveness of the treatments. Proton pump inhibitors that have holding time of intragastric pH>4 for at least 11h in 24h period (esomeprazole, lansoprazole, omeprazole and rabeprazole), were included. In this cost-minimization analysis (CMA), data on holding times were gathered from scientific publications listed in MEDLINE, prices of proton pump inhibitors from the Finnish database of drug prices and the treatment dosages were taken from the official guide of drug therapies in Finland. A decision tree was applied and the probabilities utilized were acquired from three expert physicians. The cost-minimization analysis was performed in three settings. At first, drugs that had a holding time (pH>4) of 11h or more were included. Secondly, drugs that had a holding time of 12h or more were included, and thirdly, a holding time of 13h or more was required. In the first analysis, the least expensive PPI treatment was lansoprazole (average cost of 138.89 per patient). In the second analysis, least expensive treatment was rabeprazole (193.81 per patient), and in the third, rabeprazole again (193.81 per patient). Esomeprazole and omeprazole were not among two of the least expensive alternatives in any of the settings. Which proton pump therapy turns out to be the least expensive for GERD, depends on the length of the holding time desired. Varying the holding time of the drug had a profound effect on the conclusions about the cost-effectiveness of the alternative treatments.

Management of gastroesophageal reflux disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic condition requiring long-term treatment. Simple lifestyle modifications are the first methods employed by patients and, because of their low cost and simplicity, should be continued even when more potent therapies are initiated. Potent acid-suppressive therapy is currently the most important and successful medical therapy. Whereas healing of the esophageal mucosa is achieved with a single dose of any proton pump inhibitor (PPI) in more than 80% of cases, symptoms are more difficult to control. Patients with persistent symptoms on therapy should be tested (preferably with combined multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH) for association of symptoms with acid, nonacid, or no GER. Long-term follow-up studies indicate that PPIs are efficacious, tolerable, and safe medication. So far, promotility agents have shown limited efficacy, and their side-effect profile outweighs their benefits. Antireflux surgery in carefully selected patients (ie, young, typical GERD symptoms, abnormal pH study, and good response to PPI) is as effective as PPI therapy and should be offered to these patients as an alternative to medication. Still, patients should be informed about the risks of antireflux surgery (ie, risk of postoperative dysphagia; decreased ability to belch, possibly leading to bloating; increased flatulence). Endoscopic antireflux procedures are recommended only in selected patients and given the relative short experience with these techniques, patients treated with endoscopic procedures should be enrolled in a rigorous follow-up program.

The effects of lansoprazole on erosive reflux oesophagitis are influenced by CYP2C19 polymorphism

BACKGROUND

The acid suppressive effect of lansoprazole is influenced by the P450 2C19 (CYP2C19) polymorphism.

AIM

To investigate whether the CYP2C19 genotype is related to the healing of erosive reflux oesophagitis during treatment with lansoprazole.

METHODS

Eighty-eight Japanese patients with erosive reflux oesophagitis were treated with a daily oral dose of 30 mg lansoprazole for 8 weeks. The CYP2C19 genotype, Helicobacter pylori infection status and serum pepsinogen I/II ratio were assessed before treatment. At 4 and 8 weeks, the healing of erosive reflux oesophagitis was evaluated endoscopically.

RESULTS

The healing rates were 57.1%, 69.2% and 72.7% at 4 weeks and 77.4%, 95.0% and 100% at 8 weeks in homozygous extensive metabolizers, heterozygous extensive metabolizers and poor metabolizers, respectively. At 8 weeks, the healing rate of erosive reflux oesophagitis was significantly lower in homozygous extensive metabolizers than in the other two groups (P < 0.05). The H. pylori status and serum pepsinogen I/II ratio had less influence than CYP2C19 polymorphism on the healing rate of erosive reflux oesophagitis.

CONCLUSIONS

The therapeutic effect of lansoprazole on erosive reflux oesophagitis is influenced by the CYP2C19 genotype status. Therefore, a test of CYP2C19 genotype may be useful for the medical treatment of reflux oesophagitis with lansoprazole.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease: Natural history and long-term medical and surgical outcomes

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic condition that affects a large proportion of the adult population. Persistent untreated GERD can lead to esophageal strictures, premalignant Barrett's esophagus, and an increased risk of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. Currently, the most effective medical treatment targets gastric acid suppression, allowing healing of erosive/peptic lesions and controlling symptoms. Most patients take over-the-counter medication or are successfully treated by their primary care physician. Gastroenterologists and gastrointestinal surgeons see patients with complications, refractory symptoms despite acid-suppressive therapy, or atypical symptoms. For the medical management of GERD, proton pump inhibitors are potent acid suppressants with favorable side-effect profiles and long-term efficacy and safety. Medical therapy can heal 80% to 100% of patients with erosive esophagitis with 30% to 60% of patients reporting sustained resolution of heartburn. Surgery may be offered to patients with GERD as an alternative to long-term antireflux medication. Careful selection of appropriate surgical candidates is important, and the risk of developing new or recurrent symptoms requiring medication should be disclosed to patients contemplating the surgical alternative.

Combination drug therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the role of combination therapy with proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine(2) receptor antagonists in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

DATA SOURCES

Clinical literature identified through MEDLINE (January 1966-August 2001). Key search terms included gastroesophageal reflux, benzimidazoles; omeprazole; lansoprazole; pantoprazole; rabeprazole; receptor antagonists, histamine(2); therapy, combination drug; therapy, combined modality; and combinations, drug.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Approximately 80-90% of patients show healing of reflux esophagitis after 8 weeks of once-daily PPI therapy. Patients taking PPI therapy twice daily still have nocturnal acid breakthrough (periods of gastric pH <4 lasting for > or =60 min during the night) as much as 70% of the time. The clinical application of this finding has not been shown. One trial has shown that omeprazole in the morning plus ranitidine at bedtime is not as effective as omeprazole twice daily given before the morning and evening meals at controlling nocturnal acid breakthrough. Further, 1 small trial in healthy subjects without GERD showed that the addition of a 1-time dose of ranitidine at bedtime to a twice-daily regimen of omeprazole may decrease the occurrence of nocturnal acid breakthrough. However, the clinical significance of this finding is not clear.

CONCLUSIONS

No studies in patients with GERD demonstrate that the addition of histamine(2) receptor antagonists to twice-daily PPI therapy provides any further benefit above that derived from PPIs alone. The parameter used to measure the efficacy of combination regimens for GERD thus far--nocturnal acid breakthrough--has not been proven to correlate with improvement of GERD symptoms in any controlled or prospective clinical trials. Further investigation is needed to determine optimal therapy in patients refractory to standard doses of PPIs.

A randomized, double-blind, comparative study of standard-dose rabeprazole and high-dose omeprazole in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

BACKGROUND

Rabeprazole has a faster onset of antisecretory action than omeprazole, and it is of interest to determine whether this translates into faster symptom relief in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

AIMS

To assess the relief from heartburn after 3 days of treatment with standard-dose rabeprazole or high-dose omeprazole (primary end-point). Secondary end-points included the decrease in score for other symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, healing rates and quantification of antacid use.

METHODS

Patients with endoscopically confirmed erosive oesophagitis were randomized to receive 4 weeks of double-blind treatment with rabeprazole (20 mg) or omeprazole (40 mg). Patients who were not healed after 4 weeks received a further 4 weeks of treatment.

RESULTS

Two hundred and seventy-four patients were screened, 251 patients were randomized and 230 patients completed the trial. The numbers of patients with relief from heartburn on day 4 were similar in the two groups (84% for rabeprazole; 95% confidence interval, 76-90%; 83% for omeprazole; 95% confidence interval, 75-89%). There were no significant differences between the treatments in the relief from other gastro-oesophageal reflux disease symptoms or in healing rates. The number of reports of severe heartburn during the first 3 days was higher in the omeprazole group (daytime heartburn: 4.7% for rabeprazole vs. 10.3% for omeprazole, P=0.005; night-time heartburn: 4.7% for rabeprazole vs. 9.8% for omeprazole, P=0.01; statistical comparisons defined post hoc).

CONCLUSIONS

Standard-dose rabeprazole was as effective as high-dose omeprazole in relieving symptoms by day 4 of treatment and in healing oesophageal lesions, but had a faster onset of action in patients with severe heartburn. This suggests that the improved pharmacological properties of rabeprazole translate into a clinically relevant advantage.

Bedtime H2 blockers improve nocturnal gastric acid control in GERD patients on proton pump inhibitors

AIM

Proton pump inhibitors taken twice daily before meals (proton pump inhibitor b.d. AC) effectively controls daytime gastric pH; however, nocturnal gastric acid breakthrough (NAB) occurs in more than 75% of patients. Adding an H2-blocker at bedtime decreases NAB in normal subjects. The efficacy of this regimen has not been evaluated in GERD patients. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of proton pump inhibitor b.d., both with and without bedtime H2-blocker on intragastric pH and the occurrence of NAB in GERD patients.

METHODS

Prolonged ambulatory pH studies in GERD patients were reviewed. Group A: 60 patients (mean age 53 years, male 30) taking either omeprazole 20 mg or lansoprazole 30 mg b.d. Group B: 45 patients (mean age 49 years, male 23) on proton pump inhibitor b.d. (omeprazole 20 mg or lansoprazole 30 mg) plus an H2-blocker at bedtime (ranitidine 300 mg, famotidine 40 mg or nizatidine 300 mg). Eleven patients were evaluated during treatment with both regimens (group C). The percentage time of nocturnal and daytime intragastric pH > 4 and per cent of patients with gastric NAB were analysed. In the patients with NAB, its duration and associated oesophageal acid exposure also were analysed.

RESULTS

Median percentage time intragastric pH > 4 overnight was 51% in group A, compared to 96% in group B (P < 0.0001). Median percentage daytime pH > 4 was 73% in group A and 79.8% in group B (P=0.14). Median percentage time intragastric pH >p 4 overnight increased from 54.6% without H2RA to 96.5% after adding bedtime H2RA (P=0.0013) in group C patients. NAB occurred in 82% patients in group A and 40% in group B (P < 0.0001). The mean duration of oesophageal acid exposure during NAB was significantly shorter in group B (18 +/- 6 min) than in group A (42 +/- 9 min, P=0.04).

SUMMARY

Adding a bedtime H2-blocker to the treatment enhanced nocturnal gastric pH control and decreased NAB compared to the proton pump inhibitor b.d. regimen. A bedtime H2-blocker also decreased oesophageal acid exposure during NAB.

CONCLUSION

Adding a bedtime H2-blocker to a proton pump inhibitor b.d. regimen should be considered in patients who require continued nocturnal gastric acid control whilst taking proton pump inhibitor b.d.

Histamine receptor antagonists, proton pump inhibitors and their combination in the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

The medical treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease is accomplished with the appropriate use of anti-secretory therapy, principally H(2)-receptor antagonists and proton pump inhibitors. In fact, there is a direct correlation between the length of time, in terms of the number of hours per day that the intragastric pH is above 4, and the healing of the oesophagitis. Nowadays, H(2)-receptor antagonists are of limited use as primary treatment, being inferior to proton pump inhibitors in both healing and symptom relief. Although the majority of patients can be effectively managed with carefully titrated doses of proton pump inhibitors, a small number will continue to show difficulty in the management of their disease, principally because of inadequate nocturnal acid control. These patients may benefit from a combination of proton pump inhibitors twice daily with an H(2)-receptor antagonist at bedtime. This article reviews the use of H(2)-antagonists, proton pump inhibitors and their combination in the management of the patient with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

Quality of life before and after laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication

BACKGROUND

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common disorder in the Western world. The acute disease can usually be managed by medical therapy. To prevent relapse, many patients require lifelong medication. In these patients, laparoscopic antireflux surgery offers a good alternative. The aim of this study was to evaluate the postoperative results and compare pre- and postoperative quality of life after laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication.

METHODS

Clinical investigations, including esophageal manometry, pH monitoring, and endoscopy, and a previously validated Quality of Life Index, were performed before and a median of 41 month after antireflux surgery in 75 patients.

RESULTS

After laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication, the percentage of total time with pH <4 decreased from 10.4% to 3.2% on 24-h pH monitoring. The mean pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter improved from 8.1 to 12.3 mmHg. Esophagitis healed in 63 of 66 patients in whom it was present prior to surgery. The overall Quality of Life Index improved significantly from 86 +/- 16 to 116 +/- 16.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic fundoplication provides effective and durable relief of reflux in patients with GERD. The Quality of Life Index showed significant improvement after surgery.

Medical therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a chronic condition that ranges from mild, intermittent symptoms to more severe cases of esophageal strictures and possibly adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. The etiology of GERD is multifactorial, although transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxations are thought to play an important role in addition to poor esophageal clearance and weak lower esophageal sphincter pressures. Lifestyle modifications and over-the-counter medications may be used to treat GERD. After these methods are tried, therapy with histamine receptor type 2 antagonists is the best treatment, although increasingly, proton pump inhibitors are being used. Long-term therapy needs to be maintained in patients with GERD, in contrast to those patients with peptic ulcer disease. The role of lifestyle modifications is described, and the costs of the various regimens are compared.

Diagnosis and management of supra-esophageal complications of reflux disease

Supra-esophageal reflux disease may be manifested in numerous ways, including reflux laryngitis, chronic cough, chronic sinusitis, and dental enamel loss. The mechanisms of pharyngeal and laryngeal reflux are not clearly defined, and standard reflux testing does not consistently demonstrate supra-esophageal reflux. The diagnosis is usually based on clinical suspicion when other causes of symptoms are not found and on the patient's response to empiric acid suppression. With the development of triple-probe pH monitoring, through which pharyngeal pH can be assessed along with esophageal pH, the physician may now be able to demonstrate pharyngeal reflux in relation to patient symptoms. Therapy consists primarily of behavioral modification and aggressive acid suppression, although some alternative therapies exist.