Efficacy in intra-oesophageal acid suppression may decrease after 2-year continuous treatment with proton pump inhibitors.
BACKGROUND
Long-term intra-oesophageal acid suppression with proton pump inhibitors represents a management option for Barrett's oesophagus and severe reflux oesophagitis, but its stability over time has not been adequately assessed.


OBJECTIVE
Our aim was to evaluate prospectively the efficacy of proton pump inhibitors in suppressing intra-oesophageal acidity after 2-year continuous treatment.


METHODS
Forty-five patients with Barrett's oesophagus or severe reflux oesophagitis on a proton pump inhibitor regimen (once or twice daily) that normalised the total percentage acid exposure time were re-evaluated by means of 24-h oesophageal pH-monitoring after 2-year of continuous unmodified treatment.


RESULTS
A significant rise in the total percentage acid exposure time was observed at 2-year follow-up (P=0.029), owing to an increased value in 27 (60%) cases (9 on a twice daily regimen), higher than normal in 10 of them (22% of the whole group) (3 on a twice daily regimen). In 18 patients (40%) the total percentage acid exposure time was stable or decreased. Heartburn remained efficiently suppressed in all patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The efficacy of proton pump inhibitors in suppressing intra-oesophageal acidity during continuous treatment may decrease over time, up to abnormal levels of oesophageal acid exposure in a minority of cases. This may occur without heartburn recurrence and with both once and twice daily regimens.
Frazzoni
M
M
Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology Unit, New S. Agostino Hospital, Viale Giardini 1355, 41100 Modena, Italy. m.frazzoni@ausl.mo.it
Manno
M
M
De Micheli
E
E
Savarino
V
V
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001471:Barrett Esophagus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004942:Esophagitis, Peptic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors