title: Pharmacokinetic evaluation of esomeprazole for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely used for the treatment of acid-related diseases such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). They are recommended by the American College of Gastroenterology for healing erosive esophagitis (EO) and as long-term treatment in patients with healed EO. The available PPIs differ somewhat in their pharmacokinetics and clinical properties, but whether these differences are of clinical relevance is a matter of debate. Some safety concerns have been raised with the use of PPIs, mostly an increased incidence of infectious diseases such as community-acquired pneumonia or Clostridium difficile diarrhea.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article explores the results of clinical studies on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of esomeprazole , as well as on its clinical efficacy to manage patients with GERD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GERD is a public health concern as its worldwide incidence and associated complications are increasing alongside the exponentially increasing problem of obesity. PPIs are the first pharmacological option because of their efficacy and overall positive risk-to-benefit ratio. Improved efficacy with the use of stereospecific isomers of PPIs, such as esomeprazole, has not yet been convincingly demonstrated. Nevertheless, because of individual experience with former treatment, some patients may report better symptom control when treated with a specific PPI rather than with others.
authors.affiliation: CRI U866, INSERM (Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale) , Dijon , France marc.bardou@u-bourgogne.fr.
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Goirand
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Le Ray
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bardou
mesh_terms: D064098:Esomeprazole / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004941:Esophagitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005764:Gastroesophageal Reflux / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D054328:Proton Pump Inhibitors; D064098:Esomeprazole
keywords: esomeprazole; gastroesophageal reflux disease; pharmacokinetics