Adolescents With GERD Can Tolerate Dexlansoprazole

Dexlansoprazole is safe, effective, and well-tolerated among adolescents with symptomatic, nonerosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), according to a recent study.

GERD is commonly treated with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). However, despite the efficacy of existing treatments, many patients have persisting symptoms.
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For their study, the researchers assessed 104 adolescents age 12 to 17 years with an endoscopically confirmed diagnosis of nonerosive GERD. Patients were prescribed 30 mg dexlansoprazole for 4 weeks.

The researchers identified the primary outcome as treatment-emergent adverse events experienced by 5% or patients or more, and the secondary outcome was the percentage of days with neither daytime nor nighttime heartburn.

Patient electronic diaries were used to record heartburn symptoms and severity on a daily basis. An independent investigator evaluated symptoms, severity, and patient-reported quality of life at baseline and at final follow-up.

Results indicated that dexlansoprazole use had led to a median of 47.3% of days with neither daytime nor nighttime heartburn. The only treatment-emergent adverse events reported by 5% of patients or more were diarrhea and headache.

Ultimately, dexlansoprazole use was associated with an improvement in epigastric pain, acid regurgitation, and heartburn in 73% to 80% of patients. Furthermore, at week 4, Pediatric Gastroesophageal Symptom and Quality of Life Questionnaire-Adolescents-Short Form symptom and impact subscale scores had each decreased by an average of 0.7 units.

“Use of 30-mg dexlansoprazole in adolescent [nonerosive GERD] was generally well tolerated and had beneficial effects on improving heartburn symptoms and quality of life,” the researchers concluded.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Gold BD, Pilmer B, Kierkuś J, Hunt B, Perez MC, Gremse D. Dexlansoprazole for heartburn relief in adolescents with symptomatic, nonerosive gastro-esophageal reflux disease [Published online September 15, 2017]. Dig Dis Sci. doi:10.1007/s10620-017-4743-3.