A case of gastric polyposis in antral area of stomach following prolonged proton-pump therapy

Gastric Polyps in Long-Term Proton Pump Inhibitor Use: Identification of Risks and Characteristics

Aim Estimate the prevalence of gastric polyps linked to long-term use of proton pump inhibitor (PPI), determine the various risk factors that promote this association, and identify the characteristics associated with these polyps. Methods This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted on approximately 1000 patients presenting to the Gastroenterology Endoscopic Department for upper GI endoscopy at two hospital centers in Beirut, Lebanon, over a period of 12 months from September 2021 to September 2022. The demographic and clinical data of patients who had been taking PPIs for at least one month were collected via a questionnaire. All patients with a previous Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, presence of hypergastrinemia, or a personal/family history of gastric polyps were excluded from this study. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 20 software. Categorical variables were compared by Fisher's exact test; p-values of less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results The prevalence of gastric polyps linked to long-term PPI use was 30%. The minimum duration of daily PPI use required for the formation of polyps is around 24 months. The dosage did not play a significant role in increasing this prevalence. A significant correlation was found between chronic PPI use and factors such as sex, age range, duration, and type of PPI used. These polyps were predominantly found in females (with an OR of 2.9), increased with age, were mostly of the fundic gland type, and their size was proportionally linked to both the dosage and duration of daily PPI use. No cases of dysplasia within the fundic gland polyps (FGPs) were demonstrated in our study. Conclusion To date, there is no current data that prove an association between gastric cancer and PPI-induced FGPs. Additionally, the incidence of FGPs has increased with the widespread chronic use of PPIs. Therefore, attention should be drawn to the potential risk of dysplasia. Thus, the present study highlights the importance of limiting the prescription of PPIs to globally well-defined indications and determining the various risk factors that promote the association between gastric polyps and PPI use. This abstract was recently presented as an E-poster at the ESGE Days 2024 Congress on April 25-27, 2024, in Berlin, Germany.

Clinicopathologic Correlation of Large Gastric Polyps in an Elderly Female: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Fundic gland polyps (FGPs) are benign epithelial polyps usually located in the gastric body and fundus. Here, we describe the case of an elderly woman who presented with symptomatic anemia, abdominal pain, and weight loss. There was also history of chronic use of proton pump inhibitors for the symptomatic treatment of dyspepsia. Reflux esophagitis, duodenal ulcers, and multiple gastric polyps suspicious of malignancy were found at endoscopy. A large pedunculated antral polyp measuring more than 10mm in the largest dimension and other smaller polyps in the body and fundus were removed completely by cold snare and sent for histopathologic evaluation. The polyps were eventually diagnosed as benign fundic gland polyps. Biopsies taken from the gastric mucosa also showed Helicobacter pylori-associated gastritis. Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy was commenced with the resultant resolution of symptoms. No surveillance is required for FGPs because they are not premalignant lesions. However, large FGPs require excision and thorough histopathologic evaluation to rule out atypia and malignancy. This index case further highlights a possible causal link between the chronic use of proton pump inhibitors and the development of fundic gland polyps.

Proton Pump Inhibitor-Associated Large Hyperplastic Polyp in Non-Helicobacter pylori-Infected Stomach

A proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-associated hyperplastic polyp (HP) in the non-Helicobacter pylori-infected stomach is rare, and its endoscopic features remain poorly described. A 42-year-old man with tarry stool was referred to our hospital for examination and treatment. He had taken PPI for 14 years and was confirmed to be H. pylori-negative. Transnasal endoscopy revealed bleeding from a 20-mm, reddish pedunculated polyp with a nodular surface, located in the greater curvature of the upper gastric body. Endoscopic mucosal resection was performed, and the lesion was diagnosed as an HP. To our knowledge, this report represents a valuable addition to the HP literature describing a rare case of PPI-associated large HP in the non-H. pylori-infected stomach.

Gastric Hyperplastic Polyps Associated with Proton Pump Inhibitor Use in a Case without a History of Helicobacter pylori Infection

A 56-year-old man with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) was referred to our hospital. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) revealed no evidence of any polypoid lesions in the stomach, and the patient had no history of Helicobacter pylori infection. He received omeprazole (20 mg) once daily for the GERD. EGD was performed at 1 year after the start of omeprazole administration, and this time, gastric hyperplastic polyps (GHPs) were detected. The GHPs increased in size as the omeprazole treatment continued, but they markedly decreased in size following omeprazole discontinuation. Thus, the administration of proton pump inhibitors may be a risk factor for the development of GHP independent of H. pylori infection.

Prolapsing Gastric Polyp Causing Intermittent Gastric Outlet Obstruction

Gastric polyps are often an incidental finding on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, with an incidence up to 5%. The majority of gastric polyps are asymptomatic, occurring secondary to inflammation. Prior reviews discussed Helicobacter pylori (H pylori)-associated singular gastric polyposis; however, we present a rare and unusual case of recurrent multiple benign gastric polyposis post H pylori eradication resulting in intermittent gastric outlet obstruction. A 70-year-old independent male, Chinese in ethnicity, with a background of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and a simple renal cyst presented with a combination of melena, anemia, and intermittent vomiting of partially digested food after meals. Initial gastroscopy was positive for H pylori; thus he was treated with H pylori eradication and proton pump inhibitors. Serial gastroscopy demonstrated multiple sessile gastric antral polyps, the largest measuring 4 cm. Histopathologic examination confirmed a benign hyperplastic lesion. Computed tomography identified a pyloric mass with absent surrounding infiltration or metastasis. A distal gastrectomy was performed, whereby multiple small pyloric polyps were found, the largest prolapsing into the pyloric opening, thus explaining the intermittent nature of gastric outlet obstruction. Such polyps often develop from gastric ulcers and, if left untreated, may undergo neoplasia to form malignant cells. A distal gastrectomy was an effective choice of treatment, taking into account the polyp size, quantity, and potential for malignancy as opposed to an endoscopic approach, which may not guarantee a complete removal of safer margins and depth. Therefore, surgical excision is favorable for multiple large gastric polyps with risk of malignancy.