June 2010

May 25 2010-Medscape Medical News
FDA warns that Proton Pump Inhibitors may increase risk of fractures. Most of the data for the basis of this warning comes from epidemiologic studies.

March 24 2010-Medscape Medical News
Laparoscopic fundoplication surgery is more effective than medical management for treating gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), at least in the short to medium term, according to the results of a systematic review reported online in the March 17 issue of the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. There were significant improvements in GERD-specific QOL after surgery vs medical therapy in all 4 studies. Symptoms of heartburn, reflux, and bloating appeared to be reduced after surgery vs medical therapy. However, a small proportion of patients had persistent postoperative dysphagia (problems with swallowing). Postoperative adverse events were uncommon, and overall rates of postoperative complications were low.

November 18,2009-Medscape Medical News
There was not evidence of an increased response in GERD-associated heartburn relief to increased doses of the proton pump inhibitor (PPI) esomeprazole (Nexium), according to new study results presented athe the American College of Gastroenterology 2009 Annual Scientific Meeting.

July 2009-Medscape Medical News
A study shows that proton pump inhibitor therapy for 8 weeks caused, upon stopping the medication, acid-related symptoms in healthy volunteers.

June 2009-Medscape Medical News
Proton-pump inhibitors and histamine-2 receptor antagonists (e.g. zantac, pepcid) increased the risk for hip fracture by 30%.

April 2009-Medscape Medical News
Treatment with proton-pump inhibitors does not improve asthma control, according to the results of a trial reported in the April 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. (Personal comment - I think the authors incorrectly conclude that GERD is not a likely cause of uncontrolled asthma. The study did not look at non-acid reflux, which many pulmonologists believe is a signficant factor in GERD-related asthma. Medication does not stop non-acid reflux.)