Do Acid-Suppressing Drugs Increase Cancer Risk in Barrett Esophagus?

Not according to a recent meta-analysis, which showed a protective effect of PPIs, particularly with long-term use.

Study findings are inconsistent with regard to a possible association between long-term use of proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine receptor antagonists and development of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) or high-grade dysplasia (HGD) in patients with Barrett esophagus (BE). To explore this issue further, investigators conducted a systematic review and subsequent meta-analysis of five cohort studies and two case-control studies comprising 2813 patients with nondysplastic BE.

PPI use was associated with a 71% reduction in risk for EAC, HGD, or both (odds ratio, 0.29; 95% confidence interval, 0.12–0.79). In three studies with available data, a duration-response trend was observed (odds ratio, 0.45 for >2–3 years of PPI use [95% CI, 0.19–…

Reviewing Author

David A. Johnson, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory boardMedscape/WebMD; Pfizer; CRH Medical Corporation; Aries

EquityCRH Medical Corporation

Editorial boardsMedscape Gastroenterology

Leadership positions in professional societiesAmerican College of Gastroenterology Research Institute Board of Directors