Safety of Intravenous Pantoprazole Sodium in Pediatric Patients Aged 1 Month to < 1 Year: A Real-World Retrospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the incidence rates (IR) of prespecified outcomes of interest in pediatric patients (1 month to < 1 year) treated with intravenous (IV) pantoprazole using Optum's longitudinal electronic health records database (Optum Market Clarity) from the United States (US).

METHODS

This real-world, non-interventional, retrospective cohort study was conducted from 01 January 2007 to 31 December 2020 in patients who received IV pantoprazole. Premature patients and those weighing < 2.36 kg were excluded. Patients were categorized based on diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and erosive esophagitis (EE) into: Subgroup 1 (GERD and EE), Subgroup 2 (GERD and no EE), and Subgroup 3 (absence of GERD and EE). Overall IRs (per 1000 person-years [PY]) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of outcomes were estimated (overall and subgroups) and stratified by duration of IV pantoprazole treatment (< 4 days versus ≥ 4 days).

RESULTS

Of 1879 eligible patients, none were identified in Subgroup 1; 851 (45.3%) and 1028 (54.7%) patients were identified in Subgroups 2 and 3, respectively. IRs of outcomes of interest ranged from 0.0 to 742.8 per 1000 PY. IRs were highest for vomiting (742.80), diarrhea (377.77), abdominal distension (214.31), hyponatremia (204.99), and hypokalemia (203.49). IRs were comparable between Subgroups 2 and 3. For most outcomes, IRs were higher among patients treated with IV pantoprazole for ≥ 4 days versus those treated for < 4 days.

CONCLUSION

These results are consistent with the known safety profile of pantoprazole and emphasize the utility of using real-world data from pediatric populations for assessment of safety outcomes.

Ilaprazole Compared With Rabeprazole in the Treatment of Duodenal Ulcer: A Randomized, Double-blind, Active-controlled, Multicenter Study

GOALS

The main goal of this study was to explore the dose-effect relationship of ilaprazole.

BACKGROUND

Ilaprazole is a kind of benzimidazole proton-pump inhibitor, which was confirmed efficacious and safe in treatment of duodenal ulcer (DU). However, the dose-effect relationship of ilaprazole was not clear.

STUDY

This was a double-blind, parallel, randomized study. Patients aged above 18 years with at least one endoscopically confirmed active nonmalignant DU were treated with rabeprazole 10 mg or ilaprazole 10 mg/5 mg for 4 weeks. Healing of ulcer was determined by its resolution from active to scarring stage. Symptoms relief was evaluated using a graded score. Safety and tolerability were evaluated on basis of clinical assessments.

RESULTS

A total of 390 patients completed the study finally. Ulcers were successfully healed in 75.38%, 77.86%, and 83.72% of patients after 4-week treatment with rabeprazole 10 mg, ilaprazole 5 mg, and ilaprazole 10 mg, respectively. The 4-week healing rate difference between rabeprazole 10 mg and ilaprazole 5 mg was 2.48% (95% confidence interval: -7.79% to 12.74%) leading to accept the noninferiority hypothesis. Logistic regression model suggested that ilaprazole 10 mg was superior to ilaprazole 5 mg at week 2 (odds ratio, 1.92; 95% confidence interval: 1.02, 3.59; P=0.04). Most patients (80%) became asymptomatic after treatment. At the dosages administered, the 3 drug groups exhibited similar efficacy and a similar safety profile.

CONCLUSIONS

Ilaprazole 5 mg is not inferior to rabeprazole 10 mg in treating DU, and a dose-effect relationship have been revealed between 5 mg and 10 mg of ilaprazole.

Report: Impact of drug combination of clopidogrel and pantoprazole In the prognosis of patients with transient ischemic attack

The study aimed to investigate the impact of clopidogrel combined with proton pump inhibitors (PPI) pantoprazole treatment on the prognosis of patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA). A total of 478 cases of TIA patients treated with clopidogrel were randomly assigned half to clopidogrel combined with pantoprazole treatment and the control groups (clopidogrel treatment alone) from January 2012 to January 20l4. The platelet aggregation before and after treatment and cerebrovascular events incidence within 90 days were compared and analyzed. Multivariate analysis was used to estimate the incidence of cerebrovascular events within 90 days. The platelet aggregation rate before treatment was 73.2±6.1% in the treatment group, 74.1±8.8% in the control group. The platelet aggregation rate after treatment was 38.1±10.7% in the treatment group, 36.8±9.7% in the control group. The platelet aggregation before and after treatments between the two groups had not significant difference (P>0.05). The incidence of cerebrovascular events within 90 days (11.7% in the treatment group, 9.6% in the control group) between the two groups had not significant difference (P>0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that the incidence of cerebrovascular events within 90 day was associated with hypertension (P=0.008), diabetes (P=0.000), hyperlipidemia (P=0.002) and ABCD2 score >3 points (P=0.000). Clopidogrel combined with pantoprazole treatment had no significant effect on the prognosis of TIA patients.

Rabeprazole and Psychiatric Symptoms

Objective:

To report the case of a patient who developed marked anxiety associated with episodes of panic attacks after starting rabeprazole therapy.

Case Summary:

An otherwise healthy 55-year-old woman was prescribed rabeprazole 20 mg/day administered in the morning tor persistent symptoms of dyspepsia. Ten days later, she presented with a 7 day history of marked anxiety associated with panic attacks, night terror (pavor nocturnus), episodic mental confusion, and attention deficit. Within 2 days of discontinuing rabeprazole, the patient recovered completely from the neuropsychiatric manifestations. Subsequent esomeprazole therapy did not cause psychiatric symptoms.

Discussion:

Rabeprazole-induced hypergastrinemia may have played a role in this neuropsychiatric adverse reaction. Several lines of evidence have indicated that gastrin-releasing peptide, whose release is mediated by proton pump inhibitor (PPI)–induced secretion of gastrin, is involved in regulating aspects of behavior that might be altered in disorders such as anxiety, depression, and dementia. The fact that rabeprazole has the highest capacity of inducing gastrin increase compared with other PPIs might explain why our patient's panic symptoms disappeared after switching to esomeprazole. Based on the Naranjo probability scale, rabeprazole was the probable cause of the adverse reaction.

Conclusions:

Specific studies are needed to investigate the potential role of PPI-induced hypergastrinemia in neuropsychiatrie adverse reactions.

Lansoprazole Increases Serum IgG and IgM in H. Pylori-Infected Patients

Proton-pump inhibitors have been reported to influence the human immune system, we therefore evaluated the effect of lansoprazole, a proton-pump inhibitor, on humoral immunity. Patients with gastric ulcer received lansoprazole 30 mg/day for 8 weeks, and serum immunoglobulins were evaluated before and upon completion of the treatment. There were 79 patients with gastric ulcer; 51 were H. pylori-infected and 28 were H. pylori-uninfected. Eighteen patients positive for H. pylori were receiving at least one non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, and 12 patients negative for H. pylori received one non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. H. pylori-infected patients showed significant increases in serum immunoglobulins G and M 8 weeks after the start of lansoprazole treatment ( P<0.001 for IgG and P<005 for IgM), but uninfected patients did not. Even when H. pylori-infected patients receiving a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug or low-dose aspirin were analyzed separately, these increases were seen ( P<0.001 for IgG and P<0.005 for IgM). Lansoprazole elevated serum levels of immunoglobulins G and M in gastric ulcer patients with H. pylori infection, particularly in those receiving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Deducing from these observations, lansoprazole might alter the Th1 shift in the immune response induced by H. pylori infection.

Asymmetric Dimethylarginine versus Proton Pump Inhibitors Usage in Patients with Stable Coronary Artery Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study

A recent experimental study suggested that proton pump inhibitors (PPI), widely used to prevent gastroduodenal complications of dual antiplatelet therapy, may increase the accumulation of the endogenous nitric oxide synthesis antagonist asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an adverse outcome predictor. Our aim was to assess the effect of PPI usage on circulating ADMA in coronary artery disease (CAD). Plasma ADMA levels were compared according to PPI use for ≥1 month prior to admission in 128 previously described non-diabetic men with stable CAD who were free of heart failure or other coexistent diseases. Patients on PPI tended to be older and with insignificantly lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR). PPI use was not associated with any effect on plasma ADMA (0.51 ± 0.11 (SD) vs. 0.50 ± 0.10 µmol/L for those with PPI (n = 53) and without PPI (n = 75), respectively; p = 0.7). Additionally, plasma ADMA did not differ between PPI users and non-users stratified by a history of current smoking, CAD severity or extent. The adjustment for patients’ age and GFR did not substantially change the results. Thus, PPI usage does not appear to affect circulating ADMA in non-diabetic men with stable CAD. Whether novel mechanisms of adverse PPI effects on the vasculature can be translated into clinical conditions, requires further studies.

Potential Drug Interaction Between an Antiplatelet Agent and a Proton Pump Inhibitor

Older adults frequently have multiple medical conditions and consequently receive multiple medications. Cardiovascular (CV) and gastrointestinal disorders are two conditions in seniors that often require both long-term antiplatelet therapy and medications for GI prophylaxis. Clopidogrel and pantoprazole are commonly used for these conditions; however, there are potential adverse consequences secondary to drug interactions. Both of these drugs are metabolized via the cytochrome P450 system, and there is a potential for drug interactions that may result in decreased effectiveness of clopidogrel and an increased risk of adverse CV outcomes. Pharmacists should be informed of these potential drug interactions and take appropriate actions to assure safe and effective patient care.

Efficacy of ilaprazole in the treatment of duodenal ulcers: A meta-analysis

AIM: To compare the efficacy and tolerance of ilaprazole compared with other proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in the treatment of duodenal ulcer.

METHODS: An electronic database search of Medline, Embase, the Cochrane controlled trials register, Web of Science, PubMed, and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (updated to July 2013), and manual searches were conducted. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials comparing the efficacy and tolerance of ilaprazole and other PPIs in the treatment of duodenal ulcers was performed.

RESULTS: Five articles involving 1481 patients were included. The meta-analysis showed no difference in the 4-wk healing rate between ilaprazole and other PPIs [89.7% vs 87.0%; relative risk (RR) = 1.02; 95%CI: 0.98-1.06; Z = 1.00; P = 0.32]. The results did not change in the sensitivity analyses. The meta-analysis indicated that the adverse effect rate in the ilaprazole group was lower than that in the control group, but the difference was not significant (9.7% vs 13.0%; RR = 0.81; 95%CI: 0.60-1.07; Z = 1.47; P = 0.14).

CONCLUSION: Ilaprazole is a highly effective and safe PPI in the treatment of duodenal ulcers. Ilaprazole can be recommended as a therapy for acid-related disorders, especially in Asian populations.

Pantoprazole may improve beta cell function and diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND

Proton pump inhibitors induce hypergastrinemia by suppressing gastric acidity. Gastrin has incretin-like stimulating actions on beta cells. Proton pump inhibitors have been shown to decrease glycosylated hemoglobin.

AIM

We aimed to observe changes in beta cell function in diabetic and non-diabetic subjects given pantoprazole for an acid-related ailment.

METHODS

Seventy-nine male patients (38 non-diabetic and 41 type-2 diabetic receiving only metformin therapy) were followed for 12 weeks after pantoprazole 40 mg/day was given. Fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, fasting insulin, Pancreatic B cell function (HOMA-B), proinsulin and c-peptide levels were measured before and after the treatment.

RESULTS

In non-diabetic patients (n = 38), FPG decreased, whereas c-peptide, log-HOMA-B, increased significantly (p = 0.002, p = 0.03, p = 0.042, respectively) after 12 weeks of pantoprazole administration. In type 2 diabetic patients, FPG, HbA1c and weight decreased, whereas log-HOMA-B, c-peptide and log-proinsulin levels increased significantly after pantoprazole treatment (p = 0.003, p = 0.007, p < 0.001; p < 0.001; p = 0.017, p = 0.05, respectively). After pantoprazole treatment, pancreatic B-cell function was correlated with c-peptide and insulin and inversely with FBG and HbA1c levels in the whole group (r = 0.37, p = 0.001; r = 0.60, p < 0.001, r = -0.29, p = 0.011 and r = -0.28, p = 0.013, respectively). After pantoprazole treatment, HbA1c was correlated with FBG (r = 0.75, p < 0.001) and inversely with only log-HOMA-B level (r = -0.28, p = 0.013).

CONCLUSIONS

Pantoprazole administration seems to correlate with increased beta cell function. Pantoprazole administration improves HbA1c, HOMA-B, c-peptide and proinsulin levels. Since beta cell loss plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes, PPI-based therapies may be useful in the treatment of diabetes.

Intestinal absorption of raltitrexed and evaluation of the effects of absorption enhancers

Raltitrexed (RTX) has shown clinical activity in a variety of advanced solid tumours. Its oral bioavailability is low and its intestinal absorption mechanism is not clear. In the present study, the absorption mechanism of RTX in the small intestine was investigated, and the effects of absorption enhancers and efflux transporter inhibitors were evaluated by in vitro transport studies using the Caco-2 cell model and in situ perfusion experiments in rats. Oral bioavailability of RTX in rats in the presence or absence of enhancers were also investigated. The results of in vitro and in situ experiments indicated that the kinetic model of combined mechanism (active and passive transport) fitted the concentration-time data of RTX best with the highest R2 and lowest SSE (Sum of Squares for Error). The apparent or effective permeability coefficient (P(app) or P(eff)) of RTX remained statistically constant in a certain concentration range, then decreased when the concentration increased. But the decrease trend did not continue with further increase in concentration. And folic acid could competitively inhibit RTX absorption. These results suggested that a combined absorption mechanism for RTX existed. Furthermore, within certain concentration ranges, Carbomer 934P and sodium caprate (Cap-Na) exhibited significant absorption enhancement effects with low toxicity, whereas the enhancement effects of sodium deoxycholate (Deo-Na) were accompanied with acute toxicities. Moreover, probenecid and pantoprazole obviously enhanced RTX absorption, demonstrating that RTX is a substrate of the multidrug resistance protein (MRP) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP). A secretion experiment indicated that RTX could be effluxed into the intestines both with bile and by active efflux action. Oral bioavailability of RTX was significantly improved by the investigated absorption enhancers and transporter inhibitors, which is consistent with the in vitro and in situ experiments.

Risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality associated with concomitant use of clopidogrel and proton pump inhibitors in elderly patients

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effect of concomitant use of clopidogrel and PPIs in a national sample of elderly Medicare beneficiaries (age ≥65 years).

METHODS

A nested case-control design was employed. A cohort of Medicare beneficiaries who initiated clopidogrel and did not have any gap of ≥30 days between clopidogrel fills between July 1, 2006 and December 31, 2008 was identified from a 5% national sample of Medicare claims data. Within this cohort, cases (beneficiaries who experienced any major cardiovascular event [MCE] [acute myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary artery bypass graft, or percutaneous coronary intervention] or all-cause mortality) and controls (beneficiaries who did not experience any MCE or all-cause mortality) were identified from inpatient and outpatient claims. Cases and controls were matched on age and the time to first clopidogrel fill. Conditional logistic regression was performed on the matched sample to evaluate the association between concomitant use of clopidogrel and PPIs and adverse health outcomes (MCEs and all-cause mortality).

RESULTS

A total of 43,159 clopidogrel users were identified. Among them, 15,415 (35.7%) received clopidogrel and a PPI concomitantly at any time during the study period, 3502 (8.1%) experienced a MCE, 7306 (17.1%) died, and a total of 9908 (22.8%) experienced the primary composite outcome (any MCE or all-cause mortality) during follow-up. The odds ratio (OR) for the primary composite outcome was 1.26 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18-1.35). Secondary analyses indicated that elderly patients using clopidogrel and a PPI concomitantly were more likely to experience all-cause mortality (OR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.29-1.53) as compared to those receiving clopidogrel only, but not MCEs (OR: 1.06; 95% CI: 0.95-1.18).

CONCLUSIONS

Concomitant use of clopidogrel and PPIs was associated with a slightly increased risk of all-cause mortality but not MCEs.

Atorvastatin-related rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure in a genetically predisposed patient with potential drug-drug interaction

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 75-year-old man developed rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure during atorvastatin therapy. All medications were discontinued and the patient was treated with intermittent hemodialysis throughout the course of hospitalization. After four weeks, patient's kidney function tests and serum myoglobin levels decreased to normal values and muscle weakness gradually disappeared. Genotyping results showed that the patient had a single-nucleotide polymorphism within genes encoding the organic anion-transporting polypeptide 1B1 and ATP binding cassette sub-family B member 1, which predisposed him for statin-induced myopathy. He was also a poor metabolizer of cytochrome P450 2C19. Concomitant therapy with pantoprazole could have resulted in the inhibition of cytochrome P450 3A4-mediated metabolism of atorvastatin and contributed to the development of rhabdomyolysis.

CONCLUSION

The case illustrates the clinical relevance and relationship between pharmacogenetic and pharmacokinetic factors in the development of statin-induced myopathy.

Cutaneous reactions to proton pump inhibitors: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

Even though proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are commonly used in clinical practice, a limited number of studies are available about cutaneous adverse reactions from PPIs, and most of these are case reports.

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate the pattern of cutaneous reactions related to PPI usage and to evaluate the risk of developing PPI drug eruptions among adult patients.

METHODS

We reviewed the spontaneous reports of any adverse events associated with PPI use, as reported from January 2005 through May 2010 to the Adverse Drug Reaction Center at Siriraj Hospital in Thailand. Each control was sampled from 15 patients who had consecutive hospital numbers from each study case.

RESULTS

The prevalence of cutaneous reactions to PPIs varied, ranging from three to 20 per 100,000 of the treated population. Sixty-four patients with a history of reaction to PPIs, and 65 controls were enrolled. Most cutaneous reactions were attributed to omeprazole (n=50; 78.1%), and the most frequently observed cutaneous reaction was maculopapular rash (43.8%). None of the patients experienced a cross-reaction between individual PPIs.

CONCLUSION

Cutaneous adverse reactions to PPIs range from minor drug rashes to a severe, life-threatening reaction. Individuals with a history of adverse drug reaction have an increased risk of cutaneous reaction to PPIs.

Pantoprazole, a proton pump inhibitor, delays fracture healing in mice

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which are widely used in the treatment of dyspeptic problems, have been shown to reduce osteoclast activity. There is no information, however, on whether PPIs affect fracture healing. We therefore studied the effect of the PPI pantoprazole on callus formation and biomechanics during fracture repair. Bone healing was analyzed in a murine fracture model using radiological, biomechanical, histomorphometric, and protein biochemical analyses at 2 and 5 weeks after fracture. Twenty-one mice received 100 mg/kg body weight pantoprazole i.p. daily. Controls (n = 21) received equivalent amounts of vehicle. In pantoprazole-treated animals biomechanical analysis revealed a significantly reduced bending stiffness at 5 weeks after fracture compared to controls. This was associated with a significantly lower amount of bony tissue within the callus and higher amounts of cartilaginous and fibrous tissue. Western blot analysis showed reduced expression of the bone formation markers bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2, BMP-4, and cysteine-rich protein (CYR61). In addition, significantly lower expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen indicated reduced cell proliferation after pantoprazole treatment. Of interest, the reduced expression of bone formation markers was associated with a significantly diminished expression of RANKL, indicating osteoclast inhibition. Pantoprazole delays fracture healing by affecting both bone formation and bone remodeling.

Lansoprazole for children with poorly controlled asthma: a randomized controlled trial

CONTEXT

Asymptomatic gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is prevalent in children with asthma. Untreated GER has been postulated to be a cause of inadequate asthma control in children despite inhaled corticosteroid treatment, but it is not known whether treatment with proton pump inhibitors improves asthma control.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether lansoprazole is effective in reducing asthma symptoms in children without overt GER.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

The Study of Acid Reflux in Children With Asthma, a randomized, masked, placebo-controlled, parallel clinical trial that compared lansoprazole with placebo in children with poor asthma control who were receiving inhaled corticosteroid treatment. Three hundred six participants enrolled from April 2007 to September 2010 at 19 US academic clinical centers were followed up for 24 weeks. A subgroup had an esophageal pH study before randomization.

INTERVENTION

Participating children were randomly assigned to receive either lansoprazole, 15 mg/d if weighing less than 30 kg or 30 mg/d if weighing 30 kg or more (n = 149), or placebo (n = 157).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome measure was change in Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) score (range, 0-6; a 0.5-unit change is considered clinically meaningful). Secondary outcome measures included lung function measures, asthma-related quality of life, and episodes of poor asthma control.

RESULTS

The mean age was 11 years (SD, 3 years). The mean difference in change (lansoprazole minus placebo) in the ACQ score was 0.2 units (95% CI, 0.0-0.3 units). There were no statistically significant differences in the mean difference in change for the secondary outcomes of forced expiratory volume in the first second (0.0 L; 95% CI, -0.1 to 0.1 L), asthma-related quality of life (-0.1; 95% CI, -0.3 to 0.1), or rate of episodes of poor asthma control (relative risk, 1.2; 95% CI, 0.9-1.5). Among the 115 children with esophageal pH studies, the prevalence of GER was 43%. In the subgroup with a positive pH study, no treatment effect for lansoprazole vs placebo was observed for any asthma outcome. Children treated with lansoprazole reported more respiratory infections (relative risk, 1.3 [95% CI, 1.1-1.6]).

CONCLUSION

In this trial of children with poorly controlled asthma without symptoms of GER who were using inhaled corticosteroids, the addition of lansoprazole, compared with placebo, improved neither symptoms nor lung function but was associated with increased adverse events.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00442013.

Hypomagnesemia associated with a proton pump inhibitor

Severe hypomagnesemia is a serious clinical condition. Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) induced hypomagnesemia has been recognized since 2006. In March 2011 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration advised that long-term use of PPI can induce hypomagnesemia. We report the first Japanese case of hypomagnesemia associated with chronic use of PPIs in a 64-year-old man hospitalized for nausea, bilateral ankle arthritis, and tremor of the extremities who had convulsions 3 days after admission. Blood analysis showed severe hypomagnesemia. He had been taking rabeprazole (10 mg/day) for 5 years. After stopping rabeprazole and correcting the electrolytes imbalances, his symptoms improved without recurrence.

A multicenter prospective observational study of triple therapy with rabeprazole, amoxicillin and metronidazole for Helicobacter pylori in Japan

OBJECTIVE

Triple therapy with rabeprazole (RPZ), amoxicillin (AMPC) and metronidazole (MNZ) (RPZ+AMPC+MNZ therapy: RAM therapy) has been approved by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare as a second-line therapy for Helicobacter pylori-positive gastric and duodenal ulcers in Japan. The present multicenter prospective observational study aimed to investigate the safety and efficacy of RAM therapy in clinical practice.

METHODS

Patients with H. pylori-positive gastric or duodenal ulcers (including ulcer scars) in whom first-line therapy was unsuccessful were administered 10 mg of RPZ, 750 mg of AMPC and 250 mg of MNZ twice daily for seven days (total: 14 doses) based on an approved dose and regimen. Patient background factors, including complications, previous medical history, concomitant drugs, eradication results and adverse events were recorded by the investigator.

RESULTS

The incidence of adverse drug reactions was 2.21% and the H. pylori eradication rate was 92.8%. Subgroup analyses performed to investigate the patient background factors affecting safety and efficacy revealed no factors that significantly affected the incidence of adverse drug reactions or the H. pylori eradication rate.

CONCLUSION

Amid reports of decreased eradication rates with clarithromycin-based first-line therapy, the >90%H. pylori eradication rate achieved in the present study demonstrates the clinical efficacy of RAM therapy in subjects in whom first-line therapy is unsuccessful.

Lansoprazole-induced microscopic colitis: an increasing problem? Results of a prospecive case-series and systematic review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Microscopic colitis (MC), comprising lymphocytic and collagenous colitis (LC, CC), causes chronic diarrhoea. Lansoprazole can cause MC. Likelihood criteria defining the causative relationship between drugs and MC have not been applied to lansoprazole, nor has lansoprazole-related-MC been characterized.

AIM

To analyse a series of lansoprazole-related MC cases, and characterize lansoprazole-related CC and LC.

METHODS

Cases were diagnosed over 23 months and causal relationship evaluated by established likelihood criteria. A systematic Medline search was conducted and publications analysed.

RESULTS

Eight patients had lansoprazole-related MC. In all cases chronological and causality likelihood scores supported lansoprazole causative role. Discontinuation determined resolution without further treatment. Twenty-five cases of lansoprazole-related MC from 10 publications were grouped with the present series, and differences between CC and LC analysed. CC cases had more macroscopic alterations at colonoscopy (72.2 vs. 6.6%; p=0.0002). Time between lansoprazole start and symptoms onset was longer for CC (median 60 vs. 28 days; p=0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Peculiar features of lansoprazole-related CC were described through the analysis of a newly diagnosed lansoprazole-related MC series in which the causative role of lansoprazole was for the first time defined by established likelihood criteria, and by pooled evaluation with other cases retrieved by a systematic literature review.

Pharmacodynamics and safety of pantoprazole in neonates, preterm infants, and infants aged 1 through 11 months with a clinical diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease

BACKGROUND

Limited data on proton pump inhibitors in infants led regulatory agencies to request sponsors to conduct pediatric studies.

AIM

To determine the pharmacodynamic response to pantoprazole in infants with GERD to aid the dose selection for an efficacy study.

METHODS

In two open-label studies, neonates and preterm infants (study 1, ~1.2 mg/kg [high dose]) and infants 1 through 11 months (study 2, ~0.6 [low dose] or ~1.2 mg/kg [high dose]) received once-daily pantoprazole. Twenty-four-hour dual-electrode pH-metry parameters were compared between predose and steady state (≥5 days) (two-sided paired t test). Treatment was administered for ≤6 weeks.

RESULTS

In studies 1 and 2, 21 and 24 patients, respectively, were enrolled for pharmacodynamic evaluation. The high dose provided similar responses in the two studies and improved these parameters significantly: mean gastric pH and percent time gastric pH > 4 increased (p < 0.05 both studies), normalized area under the curve (AUC) of gastric H(+) activity decreased (p < 0.05 study 2), and normalized AUC of esophageal H(+) activity decreased (p < 0.05 both studies). The AUC of esophageal pH < 4 decreased. Normalized AUC of esophageal H(+) activity decreased (p < 0.05 both studies), indicating refluxate pH increased, although this was not reflected in any change in mean esophageal pH or reflux index. The normalized AUC of esophageal H(+) activity was a more sensitive measure of changes in esophageal pH.

CONCLUSIONS

In neonates, preterm infants, and infants aged 1 through 11 months, pantoprazole (high dose) improved pH-metry parameters after ≥5 consecutive daily doses, and was generally well tolerated for ≤6 weeks.

[Panum (pantoprazole) effectiveness in the treatment of patients with GERD]

There are demonstrated results of a prospective comparative study on clinical efficacy and tolerability of Panum (INN: pantoprazole) under the sponsorship of"Unique Pharmaceutical Laboratories (India)". Were evaluated the results of a 28-day course of treatment of 30 patients with GERD, including those with severe reflux esophagitis (erosive and ulcerative), who received 40 mg of pantoprazole as monotherapy. Was found an algorithm with an intermediate control efficacy to individualizing the approach to therapy. As a result 16,7% of patients with severe reflux esophagitis required increasing the dose of pantoprazole to 80 mg/day in two divided doses, and the rest (83,3%) patients to achieve clinical and endoscopic remission of GERD was sufficient single dose of 40 mg of the drug. The results of this study indicated the efficacy and safety of the Panum drug in the treatment of GERD, including its complicated forms.

Lansoprazole induces collagenous colitis in the colon of Mongolian gerbils

Collagenous colitis (CC) is an illness characterized by chronic diarrhea with possible effects on neoplastic development, but there have been no reports in animals. We therefore tried to establish CC development in a Mongolian gerbil (MG) model by long-term continuous lansoprazole (LPZ) administration and aimed to clarify the relationship between LPZ administration and CC occurrence. We divided 69 gerbils into 6 groups: Helicobacter pylori (Hp)-infected+high-dose LPZ, Hp-infected+low-dose-LPZ, Hp-infected, high-dose-LPZ, low- dose-LPZ, and control. The gerbils were sacrificed and entire colons were excised at experimental weeks 27, 54, and 108. We examined colonic lesions by staining of Swiss-roll intestines pathologically. A total of 3 gerbils had CC-like lesions in the proximal colon. All MGs with CC-like lesions were from LPZ treated groups (3 of 35; 8.6%). The thickened subepithelial collagen band detected in these lesions strongly resembled that of human CC lesions. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated a tendency for more chromogranin A-positive cells in the upper layer of colonic crypt following continuous LPZ administration. In conclusion, we successfully established development of CC-like lesions in an MG model by continuous LPZ administration and determined that the ectopic endocrine cells that were induced by LPZ administration may influence the occurrence of these lesions in the colon.

Safety and efficacy of long-term maintenance therapy with oral dose of rabeprazole 10 mg once daily in Japanese patients with reflux esophagitis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this prospective clinical study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of long-term proton pump inhibitor (PPI) treatment for two years in Japanese patients with reflux esophagitis (RE).

METHODS

The efficacy and safety of two-year (104-week) treatment with rabeprazole (RPZ) 10 mg were studied in patients confirmed to have been cured of RE by PPI and who required long-term maintenance therapy with PPI. We performed serial endoscopy, checked gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms, adverse events, laboratory values and serum gastrin. We also monitored gastric mucosal histology, atrophy and polyps.

RESULTS

The endoscopic non-relapse rate for RE was 87.3% for the 104-week period. GERD symptoms improved based on the fact that the mean change from baseline in GERD symptom score after treatment was a negative value. Treatment was safe; and atrophy was found to have developed in virtually no cases. A few new benign fundic gland or hyperplastic polyps developed throughout the study, but no ECL carcinoids were found to have developed. Serum gastrin levels tended to increase up to 24 weeks, but there were no subsequent changes thereafter up to 104 weeks.

CONCLUSION

The results confirmed oral RPZ 10 mg to be effective for maintenance therapy in Japanese patients with RE. Although effects on the gastric mucosa were not ruled out, long-term use of RPZ was confirmed to be safe overall.

[Efficacy and tolerability of pantoprazole in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease]

BACKGROUND

Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) are considered first-line therapies in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and are prescribed frequently.

METHODS

In two non-interventional trials 3040 patients with GERD were treated with 20 mg/40 mg pantoprazole per day. Symptoms were assessed by the investigators as well as the patients by means of the symptom questionnaire ReQuest at study start and after 1 week of treatment with pantoprazole. Data were pooled and analysed.

RESULTS

At study start, 80% of patients had moderate/severe heartburn, 65% acid regurgitation, 20% painful swallowing and 32% suffered from moderate/severe steep dysfunction. After 1 week of treatment only 3.6% reported moderate/severe heartburn, 2.8% acid regurgitation, and 1.0% painful swallowing. Only 3.6% still suffered from sleep dysfunction. Improvement of symptoms was already observed after 1 to 2 days.

CONCLUSION

Treatment with pantoprazole not only reliefs typical daily core symptoms but also improves the hitherto hardly noted sleep dysfunction and can, hence, bring a recovery of quality of life.

[Acute psychosis induced by a Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-eradication treatment with amoxicillin, clarithromycin and pantoprazole]

A 42 year old male patient without previous psychiatric history developed 48 hours after he was placed on a helicobacter pylori eradication treatment with amoxicillin, clarithromycin and pantoprazole a brief psychosis accompanied by delusional beliefs, personality changes and disorientation. After discontinuation of the tripletherapie and administration of risperidone he recovered within 72 hours. The follow up of the patient two, twelve and seventy-two weeks after discharge showed that he remained euthymic and free of psychotic symptoms.

[Lanzoptol efficacy at gastroesophageal reflux disease: results of multicenter study leader]

Results of multicenter study "Efficacy of Lansoptol (lansoprazole, KRKA) and its influence on the Dynamics of GERD symptoms" (LIEDER) are presented. The impact of 56-days treatment with lansoprazole 30 mg once daily on symptoms relief, a quality of life of 121 patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and healing of esophageal lesions of 30 patients with reflux esophagitis were investigated. Rapid acid inhibition effect of first dose of lansoptol was shown by 48-hr pH-monitoring. At the first day of the treatment 43.1% of patients reported decreasing of intensity of heartburn and 36.5%--of regurgitation. It were shown that the treatment with lansoptol provided symptoms relief in 25% patients at day 3, in 50% of patients at day 5 and in 75% at day 8 for heartburn, and at days 2, 6 and 9--for regurgitation. It was conducted improvement of quality of life. Healing rate of esophagitis at 28 day was 83.3%.

[Case of suspicious lansoprazole-associated collagenous colitis in ANCA-associated nephritis]

In January 2003, a 70-year-old female consulted a doctor for a fever of unknown origin. She had microscopic hematuria, proteinuria, BUN 41 mg/dL, Cr 2.1 mg/dL and MPO-ANCA 44 U/mL, and was suspected of having ANCA-associated nephritis. A renal biopsy was not conducted because the patient had just one kidney. She was treated with prednisolone (PSL ; 40 mg/day). Subsequently, because of Cr level improvement, the amount of PSL was decreased. In October 2006, the patient again had microscopic hematuria, proteinuria and a slightly elevated Cr level. Lowering of BP and dehydration caused by a common cold were considered to be the cause of her renal dysfunction. She was admitted to Fukuoka University Hospital for 2 weeks, where she received diet therapy and a changed medication schedule in which furosemide was stopped and the dose of enalapril was decreased from 5 mg/day to 2.5 mg/day. Because the MPO-ANCA level was < 10 EU, the amount of PSL was not changed. After 11 months, treatment with lansoprazole at 30 mg/day was started. At the end of the same month, however, she exhibited gait disturbance due to swelling, redness and tenderness in the bilateral pedal joints. After one month of receiving lansoprazole, she experienced a high fever and an elevated Cr level. Accordingly she was again admitted to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with venous thrombosis in the lower limbs, and warfarization was begun. Her condition improved, gradually, and she was discharged from the hospital. After the discharge, she began to exhibit watery diarrhea three to four times per day. Therefore, treatment with warfarin potassium was stopped 50 days after it was begun. In spite of the cessation of warfarization, the diarrhea continued. She underwent bacterial culturing and lower endoscopic examinations (no biopsy was done), which showed erosion of the colon, but the cause of the diarrhea was not found. After 181 days of treatment with lansoprazole, administration of this drug was stopped. The symptoms disappeared within 5 days. There have been few reports of collagenous colitis with chronic diarrhea, but a good prognosis has been described in these cases. Clinicians should consider drug treatment as a possible cause of collagenous colitis in the case of patients with chronic diarrhea of unknown origin during the administration of medication.

Pantoprazole available without a prescription: new status. Better than H2 receptor agonists, but not for pregnant women

When lifestyle measures and antacids are inadequate, and when no alarm symptoms are present, pantoprazole has a better risk-benefit balance than H2 receptor agonists.

A rare cause of hyponatraemia?

Letters: Screening prospects for hypertension-related atrial fibrillation A rare cause of hyponatraemia?

Lansoprazole-associated collagenous colitis: diffuse mucosal cloudiness mimicking ulcerative colitis

There have only been a few reports on lansoprazole-associated collagenous colitis. Colonic mucosa of collagenous colitis is known to be endoscopically normal. We present a case of collagenous colitis where the mucosa showed diffuse cloudiness mimicking ulcerative colitis. A 70-year-old woman developed watery diarrhea four to nine times a day. She had interstitial pneumonia at 67 and reflux esophagitis at 70 years. Lansoprazole 30 mg/d had been prescribed for reflux esophagitis for nearly 6 mo. Lansoprazole was withdrawn due to its possible side effect of diarrhea. Colonoscopy disclosed diffuse cloudiness of the mucosa which suggested ulcerative colitis. Consequently sulfasalazine 2 g/d was started. The patient's diarrhea dramatically disappeared on the following day. However, biopsy specimens showed subepithelial collagenous thickening and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the lamina propria, confirming the diagnosis of collagenous colitis. One month after sulfasalazine therapy was initiated, colonoscopic and histological abnormalities resolved completely. Five months later the diarrhea recurred. The findings on colonoscopy and histology were the same as before, confirming a diagnosis of collagenous colitis relapse. We found that the patient had begun to take lansoprazole again 3 mo ahead of the recent diarrhea. Withdrawal of lansoprazole promptly resolved the diarrhea. Endoscopic and histological abnormalities were also completely resolved, similar to the first episode. Retrospectively, the date of commencement of sulfasalazine and discontinuation of lansoprazole in the first episode was found to be the same. We conclude that this patient had lansoprazole-associated collagenous colitis.

Little necessity of acid inhibition against proton pump inhibitor rebound effects and prior helicobacter pylori eradication therapy in gastric ulcer patients: a randomized prospective study

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication therapy increases acid secretion and promotes the development of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and reflux esophagitis (RE). Rebound acid hypersecretion develops after the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPI). We examined the clinical necessity of acid inhibitors to prevent GERD or RE caused by PPI rebound phenomenon and prior H. pylori eradication therapy.

METHODOLOGY

We enrolled 39 patients who underwent successful H. pylori eradication therapy prior to endoscopic mucosal resection of gastric cancer. After 8-week rabeprazole treatment for iatrogenic ulcer, they were randomly divided into two groups (who took nizatidine (group N) and sofalcone (group S)), and took each for 16 weeks, we compared RE/GERD symptoms with the baseline by endoscopy and QUEST score.

RESULTS

All patients had corpus atrophy in which there was no difference between the two groups. Only 1 patient in group S (5.9%) developed symptomatic GERD, and 1 patient in group N (4.5%) developed RE.

CONCLUSIONS

In severe atrophic gastritis patients, there is little clinical necessity of acid inhibitors to prevent GERD/RE caused by PPI rebound and prior H. pylori eradication therapy.

A postmarketing surveillance study of dexrabeprazole in the treatment of acid peptic disorders

Dexrabeprazole [R(+) rabeprazole] is a novel proton-pump inhibitor which has recently become available in India for the treatment of acid peptic diseases. Experimental and clinical studies have shown superiority of dexrabeprazole (at half the recommended rabeprazole dose) over rabeprazole in terms of favourable pharmacokinetics, better efficacy and faster and greater healing activity. Results of present study in a large population of 4931 patients of acid peptic disorders, reconfirmed safety and efficacy of dexrabeprazole 10 mg once daily in the treatment of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and also showed its effectiveness in the treatment of patients with peptic ulcers (gastric/duodenal).

[Lanzoptol efficiency for heartburn alleviation in patients with NERD]

Now you can find a growing interest in modern proton pump inhibitors. This article presents results of Lanzoptol (lansoprazol company "Krka", Slovenia) drug study. This study involved 30 people including 13 women and 17 men. Study included patients with NERD aged from 18 to 65 years with clinical manifestations like pyrosis, regurgitation, epigastrium pain and in with absence of esophageal ulcers and erosions at endoscopic study. Duration of disease ranged from 2 months to 20 years. Results of the therapy: completely stopped heartburn for 4 weeks of treatment at 26 people (87%), partly--at 4. 9 patients got acute pharmacological test with 48-hour pH meter. The average time percentage at pH <4 decreased in 2 times, amount of acid esophageal reflux at pH <4--decreased in 4,5 times, the number of long-Esophageal Reflux decreased in 1,5 times. De Meester combined ratio decreased in 2 times. According to the daily pH meter speed of antisecretory effect on the average was 135 minutes. Lanzopotol portability is good, side effects hasn't been identified. So, Lanzoptol demonstrated a high rate of antisecretory effect and high clinical efficacy with an excellent portability.

Dexlansoprazole, a modified release formulation of an enantiomer of lansoprazole, for the treatment of reflux esophagitis

Takeda Pharmaceutical Co Ltd is developing dexlansoprazole, an oral controlled-release formulation of an enantiomer of lansoprazole, for the treatment of reflux esophagitis. By January 2008, an NDA for gastric acid-related diseases had been filed with the FDA, and the drug was undergoing phase II trials in Japan for gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Gastric atrophy and intestinal metaplasia in a patient on long-term proton pump inhibitor therapy

We report the case of a patient with gastroesophageal reflux disease who developed gastric atrophy and intestinal metaplasia (IM) while on 20-year treatment with proton pump inhibitors. This is perhaps the first report in human beings. A 74-year-old man, who presented with heartburn, showed abnormally high gastric pH (average 6.57) on 24-hour dual channel pH-metry even after discontinuing acid suppressive drugs for one month. No significant esophageal acid exposure was noted, which may be related to an impairment of the acid secreting capacity of the stomach (percentage time esophageal pH<4 during 24-h period 0.3%). Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was normal except for the prominent submucosal vessels in the body and fundus suggesting gastric atrophy. Histopathological examination of multiple biopsies from the body and antrum of stomach showed signs of gastric atrophy and IM. Rapid urease test and histopathology of gastric biopsies were negative for Helicobacter pylori. Anti-H.pylori IgG ELISA however, was positive. Patient was asked to stop all anti-secretory drugs and only prokinetics were prescribed following which his symptoms markedly improved. On follow-up, in April 2007, he developed symptoms of peripheral neuropathy; serum vitamin 812 level was low. He responded to parenteral vitamin 812 therapy. 24-h dual channel pH-metry repeated after one and a half years showed persistently high gastric pH (average pH 6.76). The patient remained well after discontinuing proton pump inhibitors and continuing prokinetics and vitamin B12 injections.

Efficacy and safety of pantoprazole 20 mg once daily treatment in patients with ulcer-like functional dyspepsia

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the efficacy of pantoprazole 20 mg once daily (o.d.) in relieving epigastric pain associated with ulcer-like functional dyspepsia.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre study, patients experiencing ulcer-like functional dyspepsia, with epigastric pain as the predominant symptom, were randomised to receive pantoprazole 20 mg or placebo o.d. for 28 days. Primary endpoint was the complete relief (i.e. absence) from epigastric pain after 28 days' treatment. The odds ratio (OR) for pantoprazole/placebo and its 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were determined. Significant superiority of pantoprazole was concluded if the value 1.0 was above this interval.

RESULTS

Of 419 patients (intention-to-treat [ITT]) randomised to treatment, 207 received pantoprazole and 212 received placebo. Epigastric pain relief was achieved after 28 days' treatment in 55% of pantoprazole recipients and 45% of placebo recipients (per-protocol [PP]: 58% and 47%, respectively). Pantoprazole demonstrated statistically significant superiority compared with placebo in the ITT (OR: 0.68; 95% CI: 0.46-0.99) and PP populations (OR: 0.64; 95% CI: 0.42-0.98). Pantoprazole was more efficacious than placebo in relieving heartburn and acid regurgitation after 7, 14 and 28 days of treatment. The sum score of gastrointestinal symptoms after 28 days was statistically significantly lower in the pantoprazole than placebo group. Fewer patients receiving concomitant psychotropic medication experienced relief from epigastric pain than those not receiving such medication. Adverse events did not significantly differ between pantoprazole and placebo.

CONCLUSIONS

Results of this study suggest that pantoprazole 20 mg is more efficacious than placebo, and is a well-tolerated treatment for relieving epigastric pain in patients with ulcer-like functional dyspepsia. Further research is needed to confirm these findings.

Triple therapies plus different probiotics for Helicobacter pylori eradication

The Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) cure rate following standard triple therapies is decreasing worldwide. Therefore, further approaches aimed to improve standard triple therapy efficacy should be attempted. This prospective, pilot study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic role of either Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) or a high concentration of probiotics in addition to standard triple therapies for H. pylori eradication. The study enrolled 65 consecutive dyspeptic patients with H. pylori infection. All patients underwent upper endoscopy with gastric biopsies. Patients were assigned to receive one of the following therapies: (a) standard 7-day triple; (b) the same 7-day triple therapy plus L. reuteri supplementation; (c) the same 7-day triple therapy plus a probiotic mixture; and d) a 14-day standard triple therapy plus a probiotic mixture. H. pylori eradication was checked by using a 13C-urea breath test performed 4-6 weeks after treatment. No therapy regimen achieved > 80% eradication rate at both intention-to-treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP) analyses. Although the 14-day therapy plus a probiotic mixture tended to achieve higher eradication rate (71%), no statistically significant difference emerged among the different therapy regimens tested (range: 53-71%). The lowest incidence of side-effects was observed following the 7-day therapy plus L. reuteri (6%) and highest with the 14-day triple therapy plus probiotic mixture (33%), although the difference failed to reach the statistically significance. In conclusion, our data found that 7-14 days triple therapy with or without probiotic supplementation failed to achieved acceptable H. pylori eradication rates.