Gastroesophageal reflux disease

Causal association of gastroesophageal reflux disease with chronic sinusitis and chronic disease of the tonsils and adenoids

BACKGROUND

Exploring bidirectional causal associations between gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and chronic disease of the tonsils and adenoids and chronic sinusitis, respectively.

METHODS

We first conducted a TSMR (two-sample mendelian randomization) study using the results of the inverse variance weighting method as the primary basis and bidirectional MR to rule out reverse causation. Subsequently, MVMR (multivariate MR) analysis was performed to identify phenotypes associated with SNPs and to explore the independent effect of GERD on two outcomes. Finally, we calculated MR-Egger intercepts to assess horizontal polytropy and Cochran's Q statistic to assess heterogeneity and ensure the robustness of the study.

RESULTS

For each standard deviation increase in genetically predicted GERD rate, there was an increased risk of chronic disease of the tonsils and adenoids (OR 1.162, 95% CI 1.036-1.304, P: 1.06E-02) and of developing chronic sinusitis (OR 1.365, 95% CI 1.185-1.572, P: 1.52E-05), and there was no reverse causality. Causality for TSMR was obtained on the basis of IVW (inverse variance weighting) and appeared to be reliable in almost all sensitivity analyses, whereas body mass index may be a potential mediator of causality between GERD and chronic sinusitis.

CONCLUSION

There is a causal association between GERD and chronic disease of the tonsils and adenoids and chronic sinusitis, respectively, and the occurrence of GERD increases the risk of developing chronic disease of the tonsils and adenoids and chronic sinusitis.

Effect of food on the pharmacokinetics of YH4808, a potassium-competitive acid blocker, after single- and multiple-oral dosing in healthy subjects

PURPOSE

YH4808 is a potassium-competitive acid blocker, developed for the treatment of acid-related disorders. Two clinical studies in healthy male subjects were conducted to evaluate the effect of food on the pharmacokinetics of YH4808.

METHODS

The first study, a randomized, three-treatment, three-period, crossover study, compared pharmacokinetics of YH4808 (300 mg) after a single dose at fed state with a standard or a high-fat meal to those at fasted state. The second study, a randomized, two-treatment, two-period, crossover study, investigated pharmacokinetics at fasted or fed state with a standard meal after twice daily dose of YH4808 (100 mg) for 7 days. Bloods for pharmacokinetic evaluation were sampled up to 48 h post-dose and 24 h post-dose at steady state, respectively. The pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated by non-compartmental method.

RESULTS

After single dosing, the geometric means of maximum plasma concentration increased by 1.2 and 2.1 times in the fed states with a standard meal and a high-fat meal, respectively, of that in fasted state. Corresponding values of area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) from time 0 to the last measurable time point increased by 1.8 and 2.8 times, respectively. After multiple dosing, the geometric mean for 24-h AUC at steady state slightly increased in fed state by 1.1 times of that in fasted state.

CONCLUSIONS

As fat content of the food increased, the systemic exposure of YH4808 after single dosing increased. However, systemic exposures at steady state after multiple dosing between fasted and fed states were similar.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov registry no.: NCT01520012.

Effect of pantoprazole in older patients with erosive esophagitis

Several studies suggest that older adults with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) are more likely to develop complications, including erosive esophagitis, but it is unclear whether erosive esophagitis is more difficult to treat in older patients. The purpose of this study was to determine if adults > or = 65 years with erosive esophagitis are more difficult to treat than younger adults. The study was a post hoc analysis of two double-blind, randomized, multicenter trials of patients with erosive esophagitis. Patients received pantoprazole 40 mg once daily, nizatidine 150 mg twice daily or placebo. Patients were evaluated for endoscopic healing at 4 and 8 weeks. Patients recorded typical reflux symptoms using a daily diary to note presence or absence of symptoms. Results showed that 44, 13 and 11 patients > or = 65 years and 210, 69, and 71 patients < 65 received pantoprazole 40 mg daily, nizatidine 150 mg twice daily, or placebo, respectively. Eighty-six percent (86%[76%, 97% CI]) of older and 83% (78%, 88% CI) of younger pantoprazole-treated patients were healed at 8 weeks; 46% (19%, 73% CI) and 35% (24%, 46% CI) of nizatidine-treated and 27% (1%, 54% CI) and 34% (23%, 45% CI) of placebo-treated were healed at 8 weeks. Median time to persistent absence of GERD-related symptoms was similar for older and younger patients treated with pantoprazole. We conclude that older patients with erosive esophagitis do not appear to have more difficult-to-treat disease. Erosive esophagitis is effectively healed and GERD symptoms are controlled in older patients using pantoprazole 40 mg daily.

Clinical features of reflux esophagitis in older people: a study of 840 consecutive patients

OBJECTIVES

To compare symptoms and other clinical characteristics of reflux esophagitis in patients of different ages.

DESIGN

Observational cross-sectional study of consecutive patients.

SETTING

Geriatric Unit, Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico.

PARTICIPANTS

Eight hundred forty patients with endoscopically diagnosed erosive esophagitis divided into four groups according to age (young (<50, mean 36.7, n=114), adult (50-69, mean 59.1, n=126), elderly (70-84, mean 77.3, n=425), and very elderly (>or=85, mean 88.4, n=175)).

MEASUREMENTS

Gastrointestinal symptoms were evaluated using the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale questionnaire. Other symptoms were recorded when present as an indication for endoscopy. Severity of esophagitis, presence of Helicobacter pylori infection, presence and size of hiatus hernia, Barrett's esophagus, antrum or corpus gastric atrophy, and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID) use were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Elderly and very elderly patients had a significantly lower prevalence of typical gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms (heartburn or acid regurgitation (P<.001) and epigastric pain (P<.001)) than young and adult patients. Conversely, the prevalence of other symptoms (anorexia (P<.001), weight loss (P<.007), anemia (P<.001), vomiting (P<.001), and dysphagia (P<.001)) significantly increased with age. The prevalence of severe esophagitis (P<.001), hiatus hernia (P<.005), the size of hiatus hernia (P<.001), antrum and corpus gastric atrophy (P<.05) and NSAID use (P<.005) also significantly increased with age. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that older age (65-84, odds ratio (OR)=2.66, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.38-5.12; >or=85, OR=4.57, 95% CI=2.15-9.71), hiatus hernia larger than 3 cm in diameter (OR=2.38, 95% CI=1.41-4.01), and male sex (OR=2.83, 95% CI=1.72-4.64) are independent risk factors for severe esophagitis, whereas H. pylori infection, gastric atrophy, NSAID use, and the presence of hiatus hernia were not.

CONCLUSION

Elderly patients with reflux esophagitis had less-typical and more-nonspecific symptoms than young or adult patients. Old age, male sex, and hiatus hernia size greater than 3 cm are significantly associated with severe esophagitis. Clinicians caring for older patients should be aware of the nonspecific presentation and potential severity of reflux esophagitis in this population.

A decade-long sour-taste sensation successfully treated with a proton-pump inhibitor

We report a case study of a 54-year-old Japanese woman who persistently suffered from a sour-taste sensation in her mouth for 10 years, and was treated with a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI). She found sour-tasting meals irritable, and after eating such meals the sour-taste sensation worsened. She also complained of eructation and regurgitation. Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy showed duodenal erosion, superficial gastritis, and erosive oesophagitis. After 2 weeks of PPI therapy (lansoprazole, 30 mg day(-1)) the sour taste subjectively decreased to 70%, and after 6 weeks the symptoms disappeared. In addition to increased sensitivity of the mouth, gastro-oesophageal reflux might have created her obstinate sour-taste sensations. It is suggested that in such cases PPI therapy should be attempted.

Clinical relevance of esophageal and gastric pH measurements in patients with gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD)

BACKGROUND

Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a highly prevalent disease caused by the exposure of the esophagus to refluxed gastric contents. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the mainstay of current treatment. At present, the assessment of the efficacy of different PPIs in the treatment of GERD employs two measures: esophageal and gastric pH monitoring. Esophageal pH monitoring is the most accurate method of detecting reflux episodes and, therefore, its role as a diagnostic modality is well accepted. Gastric pH monitoring, on the other hand, is an accurate measure of gastric acid pH, but its relevance to patients with GERD is questionable, since recordings correlate poorly with esophageal acid exposure.

OBJECTIVE

This paper reviews (based on a Medline literature search, 1980-2004) the clinical relevance of esophageal and gastric pH measurements in both the management of GERD and in the evaluation of the efficacy of PPI therapy.

FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS

Evidence presented suggests that the assessment of esophageal pH yields data of greater relevance to patients with GERD than does data from gastric pH. This largely arises from the fact that esophageal pH monitoring assesses the pH of the refluxate and the frequency of reflux episodes at the mucosal site affected by the disease. The use of esophageal pH monitoring is recommended in patients who fail to present with endoscopic evidence of esophagitis, those with extra-esophageal symptoms, those who have failed traditional anti-reflux therapies, and those who are potential candidates for anti-reflux surgery. In recent years, the technique has benefited from the development of a wireless pH probe, and there is also an increasing body of evidence supporting its use in combination with other emerging technologies, such as Bilitec monitoring and multichannel intraluminal impedance. Such an approach is anticipated to aid both the diagnosis of GERD and the characterization of gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) in these patients.

Oesophageal bioadhesion of sodium alginate suspensions: particle swelling and mucosal retention

This paper describes a prospective bioadhesive liquid dosage form designed to specifically adhere to the oesophageal mucosa. It contains a swelling polymer, sodium alginate, suspended in a water-miscible vehicle and is activated by dilution with saliva to form an adherent layer of polymer on the mucosal surface. The swelling of alginate particles and the bioadhesion of 40% (w/w) sodium alginate suspensions were investigated in a range of vehicles: glycerol, propylene glycol, PEG 200 and PEG 400. Swelling of particles as a function of vehicle dilution with artificial saliva was quantified microscopically using 1,9-dimethyl methylene blue (DMMB) as a visualising agent. The minimum vehicle dilution to initiate swelling varied between vehicles: glycerol required 30% (w/w) dilution whereas PEG 400 required nearly 60% (w/w). Swelling commenced when the Hildebrand solubility parameter of the diluted vehicle was raised to 37 MPa(1/2). The bioadhesive properties of suspensions were examined by quantifying the amount of sodium alginate retained on oesophageal mucosa after washing in artificial saliva. Suspensions exhibited considerable mucoretention and strong correlations were obtained between mucosal retention, the minimum dilution to initiate swelling, and the vehicle Hildebrand solubility parameter. These relationships may allow predictive design of suspensions with specific mucoretentive properties, through judicious choice of vehicle characteristics.

Variables affecting the occurrence of gastroesophageal reflux in obstructive sleep apnea patients

A number of recent studies have suggested that apnea and/or hypopnea episodes may be in a causal relationship with nocturnal gastroesophageal reflux (GER) episodes in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients. In this study, we addressed the possible factors that may affect the occurrence of reflux events in OSA patients. For this reason, we investigated respiratory and sleep parameters in OSA patients with or without nocturnal GER episodes. Nineteen patients who were referred to the sleep laboratory for suspected sleep apnea were included in the study. All subjects underwent polysomnographic evaluation simultaneously with distal and proximal esophageal pH monitoring. During the recording period, a total of 134 reflux events, 134 from distal probes and none from proximal probes, were recorded. We divided patients into two groups: (1) nocturnal GER-positive patients ( n=8; age: 41.9+/-11.9) and (2) nocturnal GER-negative patients ( n=11; age: 45.4+/-3.3). We compared demographic, respiratory and sleep parameters between the two groups. Then we analysed the time relation between GER episodes and obstructive respiratory events. The two groups were matched by age and body mass index. Sleep and respiratory parameters were not different between the two groups. In conclusion, we suggested that age, body mass index and the severity of disease in obstructive sleep apnea patients are not effective determinants of gastroesophageal reflux. There is no sufficient evidence to accept arousals and obstructive apneas as primary causes of gastroesophageal reflux and vice versa. And finally, sleep macroorganisation has no impact on the occurrence of GER in OSAS.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a common, usually lifelong, disorder resulting from chronic abnormal exposure of the lower esophagus to gastric contents. Motor dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter is the primary cause of this disease. At this writing, no medical therapies can completely resolve abnormal lower esophageal sphincter function; therefore, the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease centers on suppression of intragastric acid secretion. Available acid-suppressant medications include proton pump inhibitors, H2-receptor antagonists, and antacids. Of these, the proton pump inhibitors are recognized generally as the mainstays of both short-term and long-term therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease. All have a low incidence of side effects and are well tolerated by most patients. Five proton pump inhibitors are available currently for patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Of these, esomeprazole has shown greater efficacy in controlling intragastric acidity than the others. For patients with erosive esophagitis, esomeprazole has demonstrated higher healing rates and more rapid sustained resolution of heartburn than omeprazole or lansoprazole after up to 8 weeks of once-daily treatment. Because new therapies for gastroesophageal reflux disease are highly effective, patients can be reassured that their disease will be well controlled and their symptoms resolved with a safe and appropriate treatment.

Gastrointestinal disease control after histamine2-receptor antagonist dose modification for renal impairment in frail chronically ill elderly patients

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether histamine2-receptor antagonist (H2RA) dose modified for renal impairment affects gastrointestinal (GI) disease control.

DESIGN

Concurrent medical record review.

SETTING

One hundred forty-six nursing facilities throughout the United States.

PARTICIPANTS

Three hundred thirty-six patients aged 65 and older receiving H2RAs for GI disorders.

INTERVENTION

H2RA dose modified for renal impairment or no dose change.

MEASUREMENTS

Disease control (no H2RA dose increase for 6 months or longer, additional GI medication, hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and unscheduled physician visits for GI symptoms) was evaluated using chart review at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months in nursing home patients aged 65 and older with H2RA dose modified for decreased creatinine clearance (ClCr) according to manufacturer.

RESULTS

Three hundred thirty-six patients, mean age +/- standard deviation 85.9 +/- 7.9, with mean ClCr of 33.6 +/- 10.4 mL/min, were recommended to receive lower H2RA doses based upon estimated renal function. Patients were analyzed in two groups: H2RA dose reduced (Group 1) and dose reduction not adopted or implemented (Group 2). There was no difference in baseline characteristics (age, weight, ClCr, or starting H2RA dose and indication) between the two groups. One hundred ninety-eight patients in Group 1 were taking 195.5 +/- 71.0 mg per day of nizatidine or equivalent, compared with 183.7 +/- 66.6 mg for 138 patients in Group 2. For patients with 90 days of follow-up, the mean H2RA dose in Group 1 was 100.2 +/- 44.3 mg, compared with 187.8 +/- 69.9 for Group 2 (P <.0001) The mean decrease in daily dose for Groups 1 and 2 after 365 days were 98.9 +/- 72.9 mg and 22.2 +/- 68.2 mg, respectively (P <.0001). Except for more physician visits in Group 2, disease control was similar for all groups. Major and minor GI bleeding events were similar across both groups and over time. The 12-month mortality rate was 12.1% and 21.7% for Groups 1 and 2, respectively. This difference was statistically significant (P =.02).

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that the dose of H2RAs may be decreased based upon renal function in frail elderly patients without compromising GI disease control.

Heartburn in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in Germany and Sweden: a study on patients' burden of disease

BACKGROUND

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is widespread in the general population and presents in most cases with heartburn as the main symptom. The severity of symptoms is not necessarily related to erosive damage to the oesophagus due to acid reflux, but the frequency and severity of symptoms have an impact on the health-related QOL (HR-QOL) of the patient.

OBJECTIVE

To characterise patients with GORD who consult a physician because of heartburn with respect to medical background and burden of disease in Germany and Sweden.

METHODS

A total of 1011 patients who had been experiencing symptoms of GORD, including heartburn, for at least 1 year were recruited by physicians, who collected data on the patients' previous diagnosis and treatment. The patients themselves were interviewed by telephone about their heartburn. The EuroQOL 5-dimensional HR-QOL questionnaire (EQ-5D) and the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) were used to measure patient-reported outcomes.

RESULTS

About half of the patients had been experiencing symptoms of GORD for >5 years. The majority (54%) perceived the severity of their heartburn as moderate. Thirty-eight percent of the patients had been examined by endoscopy during the last 12 months and 79% of these had macroscopic oesophagitis. Medical treatment for heartburn had been prescribed to 88% of the patients. The mean annual number of days with heartburn was assessed as 170 days per patient, with the majority of patients (64%) experiencing heartburn every week. HR-QOL was reduced in these patients as expressed by EQ-5D scores compared to scores for a general population. Patients with GORD had problems related to gastrointestinal symptoms as rated by GSRS scores. More severe heartburn was associated with a greater number of symptom days and reduced HR-QOL scores, whereas a relationship between the findings at endoscopy and the severity of symptoms or HR-QOL could not be found.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that heartburn confers a significant burden on patients with GORD, related to the frequency and severity of symptoms and reflected in the reduction in HR-QOL as perceived by the patients.

Surgical treatment of the non-complicated gastroesophageal reflux: fundoplication without division of the short gastric vessels

BACKGROUND

There is today a significant greater number of laparoscopic antireflux procedures for the surgical treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease and there are yet controversies about the necessity of division of the short gastric vessels and full mobilization of the gastric fundus to perform an adequate fundoplication.

AIM

To verify the results of the surgical treatment of non-complicated gastroesophageal reflux disease performing Rossetti modification of the Nissen fundoplication. Patients and Methods - Fourteen patients were operated consecutively and prospectively (mean age 44.07 years); all had erosive esophagitis without Barrett's endoscopic signals (grade 3, Savary-Miller) and they were submitted to the Rossetti modification of the Nissen fundoplication. Endoscopy, esophageal manometry and pHmetry were performed before the procedure and around 18 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

There was no morbidity, transient dysphagia average was 18.42 days; there was no register of dehiscence or displacement of the fundoplication and only one patient revealed a light esophagitis at postoperative endoscopy; the others presented a normal endoscopic view of the distal esophagus. All noticed a marked improvement of preoperative symptoms. Lower esophageal sphincter pressure changed from 5.82 mm Hg (preoperative mean) to 12 mm Hg (postoperative mean); lower esophageal sphincter relaxing pressure, from 0.38 mm Hg to 5.24 mm Hg and DeMeester score, from 16.75 to 0.8.

CONCLUSION

Rossetti procedure (fundoplication without division of the short gastric vessels) is an effective surgical method to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Esophageal pH monitoring, indications, and methods

Symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common problem that affects a substantial proportion of the American population. It is estimated that the symptoms of GERD may afflict 40% to 45% of Americans each month. The diagnosis of GERD can be difficult, as its symptoms vary from typical symptoms like heartburn to atypical symptoms such as hoarseness, coughing, and chest pain. Most patients present with typical symptoms and are diagnosed with GERD if they respond to empiric trials of acid suppression. Many tests are available to help with diagnosing GERD in patients who either present with atypical symptoms or who do not respond to acid suppression; however, each test has its own shortcomings. The only test that directly measures whether acid is refluxing into the esophagus is the pH probe, but this test is uncomfortable for the patient, can be difficult to interpret, and may not be necessary in all cases. This article reviews the indications for pH monitoring, its technique, its advantages and limitations, and its role the diagnosis of GERD.

Acid peptic disease in the elderly

GERD and peptic ulcer disease are important diseases in the elderly. GERD presents similarly in the elderly and the young, although elderly patients may have less severe symptoms yet more severe mucosal disease and a higher prevalence of BE. Although the prevalence of H. pylori is falling, the elderly remain at risk for peptic ulcer because of the widespread use of NSAIDS. The presentation of peptic ulcer disease in the elderly can be subtle and atypical when compared with younger patients, leading to a delay in diagnosis. Because of comorbidity in the aged, peptic ulcer disease and its complications result in increased morbidity and mortality rates.

Clinical experience with pantoprazole in gastroesophageal reflux disease

BACKGROUND

Pantoprazole is a new proton pump inhibitor indicated for the treatment of erosive esophagitis associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and is available in both oral and intravenous (IV) formulations.

OBJECTIVE

This paper reviews the pharmacologic properties of pantoprazole and summarizes the findings from clinical studies of this drug.

METHODS

This review was compiled from the published literature, abstracts from clinical trials, and data on file with the manufacturer of pantoprazole.

RESULTS

Pantoprazole selectively accumulates in the acidic environment of gastric parietal cells and acts at the final step of acid secretion by binding 2 key cysteine residues of the proton pump involved in gastric acid production. The bioavailability of pantoprazole is not altered by concomitant administration of food or antacids or with repeated dosing. Both oral and IV formulations of pantoprazole exhibit linear pharmacokinetics. Several clinical trials have proved pantoprazole superior to histamine-2-receptor antagonists (H2RAs) in reducing acid secretion and elevating gastric pH levels. Pantoprazole has been shown to be more effective than ranitidine (P < 0.05), famotidine (P < 0.001), and nizatidine (P < 0.05), and at least as effective as omeprazole, in healing erosive esophagitis and relieving associated symptoms of GERD, including regurgitation. Pantoprazole is also more effective than the H2RA nizatidine for the treatment of nighttime heartburn (P < 0.05). Studies have shown pantoprazole to be well tolerated; adverse events, including headache, diarrhea, flatulence, abdominal pain, eructation, nausea, and rash, occurred in < or = 6% of patients. The oral and IV formulations of pantoprazole are equally potent in inhibiting gastric acid secretion; thus, switching between formulations requires no dosage adjustments. Special patient populations, including the elderly and patients with renal or mild to moderate hepatic impairment, can take pantoprazole without an adjustment in dosage.

CONCLUSIONS

Because of its unique pharmacokinetic properties, mechanism of action, and reduced potential for producing cytochrome P-450-based drug interactions, pantoprazole in both oral and IV formulations is effective over a full 24 hours and is well tolerated in a variety of patient types.

Evaluation of omeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole, and rabeprazole in the treatment of acid-related diseases

OBJECTIVE

To review the comparative efficacy and safety of the proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)--omeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole, and rabeprazole--in the management of acid-related diseases.

DATA SOURCES

English-language journal articles retrieved from a MEDLINE search from 1990 to the present using these index terms: proton pump inhibitors, omeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole, rebeprazole, and each of the acid-related diseases.

STUDY SELECTION

Clinical trials and pertinent review articles that discussed the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety of PPIs in the management of acid-related disease.

DATA EXTRACTION

By the authors.

DATA SYNTHESIS

PPIs are substituted benzimidazoles that inhibit gastric acid secretion by covalently binding to the proton pump (H+/K+ ATPase). All undergo extensive hepatic metabolism and conjugation. The four agents differ in their metabolism by and effects on specific hepatic enzymes and thus in their ability to interact with other medications. PPIs are important agents used for eradicating Helicobacter pylori, in treating peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, and upper gastrointestinal bleeding, and for preventing acid aspiration. Short-term side effects of the four agents are similar. The long-term safety of pantoprazole and rabeprazole appears similar to that of omeprazole and lansoprazole. Pantoprazole, which is in the final stages of approval for marketing in the United States, will be available in both an oral and injectable formulation.

CONCLUSION

Based on superior efficacy profiles, PPIs are the drugs of choice in managing patients with peptic ulcer disease, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. The decision to select one PPI versus another is most likely to be based on the agents' acquisition costs, formulations, FDA-labeled indications, and overall safety profiles. Intravenous or parenteral pantoprazole may become the preferred antisecretory agent for patients unable to take oral medications (e.g., critically ill patients and those with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome).