Pantoprazole 40 mg Is as Effective as Esomeprazole 40 mg to Relieve Symptoms of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease after 4 Weeks of Treatment and Superior regarding the Prevention of Symptomatic Relapse

Abstract

Background/Aim: Little is known about the symptom course during and after treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Here we address this question in patients with erosive GERD treated with pantoprazole or esomeprazole 40 mg once daily using the validated reflux questionnaire ReQuest^TM. Methods: Of 585 patients enrolled, 561 (intention-to-treat; ITT) patients with endoscopically confirmed GERD grades A–D (Los Angeles Classification) were randomized. To assess the GERD symptomatology, the patients completed the ReQuest daily, and analysis was done prior to (7 days), during (28 days), and after treatment (7 days). The mean scores (last 3 treatment days) of the subscale ReQuest^TM-GI (gastrointestinal complaints) were compared between both groups. After the end of treatment, the number of symptom episodes and the rate of relapses were calculated. Results: Noninferiority of pantoprazole versus esomeprazole during treatment was shown (mean ReQuest-GI score). During the posttreatment period, the proportion of patients experiencing a symptomatic relapse (51 vs. 61%, p = 0.0216, ITT) and the number of symptom episodes (0.56 vs. 0.74, p = 0.0095, ITT) were significantly lower on pantoprazole than on esomeprazole. Conclusions: Pantoprazole 40 mg was at least as effective as esomeprazole 40 mg for relieving GERD symptoms. During the posttreatment phase, patients on pantoprazole had a significantly lower risk to relapse and experienced significantly fewer symptom episodes.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)—Is It One Disease or an Overlap of Two Disorders?

“…Therapeutic studies that used the ReQuest as an evaluative tool clearly demonstrated a significant reduction in lower abdomen and dyspepsia-like symptoms in response to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. [39][40][41].…”

Proton Pump Inhibitors – Their Pharmacological Impact on the Clinical Management of Acid-Related Disorders

“…The objectiveo ftreating GERD [139]ist orelievetroublesome symptoms(e. g. heartburn,regurgitation),to restoreq uality of life,toh ealo esophagitis(if present) and toreducethe risko fcomplications.Therebyacid suppression ist he mainstayof therapyand PPIsr epresentt he best choice [23,98,111]becausetheyarem ore potentt hanH 2 -receptorantagonists [53,147].Dependenton the administered doseofthe PPI and treatment duration,e. g. 4or8weeks,healing in around 50to60 % and 80t o9 0%o fp atients,respectivelyhavebeen observed [38,40,97,125].Therebys ymptom relief occurred apparentlyearlierw ithrabeprazole thanwith omeprazole [46,106].…”

Acid peptic diseases: pharmacological approach to treatment

“…In the treatment of GERD, PPIs are preferred over H2RAs [66,205,206] and depending on the dose and duration of treatment, symptomatic healing rates are between 50–80% [119,207–209]. Nevertheless, a substantial number of patients with erosive esophagitis remain unhealed after 1 week of therapy with once-daily PPI therapy, especially those with high-grade disease.…”