Dataset Information

Antacid therapy for gastroesophageal reflux in preterm infants: a systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Gastro-oesophageal reflux is prevalent in preterm infants. Despite widespread use in clinical practice, there is still much controversy over the efficacy and safety of drug interventions, particularly antacid therapy.

Objective

To systematically review the effects of antacid therapy on preterm infants with symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux, and to assess the safety of these interventions.

Methods

We carried out an electronic search of the Cochrane central register of controlled trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library), MEDLINE (1966-present), EMBASE (1980-present) and CINAHL (1982-present) as well as other online sources. Participants were preterm infants (<37 weeks gestation) with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease who were receiving care on a neonatal unit. We assessed the effects of histamine-2 receptor antagonists, proton pump inhibitors and alginates against placebo, primarily to see if they reduced the symptoms of reflux.

Results

Six studies were included in this review. Meta-analysis could not be carried out due to a lack of studies assessing the same intervention with the same outcomes. Omeprazole therapy significantly reduced the oesophageal acid exposure percentage time with pH<4 (p<0.01) and sodium alginate significantly decreased gastro-oesophageal reflux episodes (p=0.024). Metoclopramide and ranitidine showed a significant increase in gastro-oesophageal reflux disease symptoms versus placebo (p<0.04). No significant results were found for the use of esomeprazole or lansoprazole versus placebo.

Conclusions

There is insufficient evidence available to conclude whether antacid therapy is effective or safe when treating gastro-oesophageal reflux disease in preterm infants. Further research is needed into this topic and caution should be taken when administering antacids to preterm infants.

Trial registration number

CRD42017078778.

SUBMITTER: Dermyshi E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6045735 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Antacid therapy for gastroesophageal reflux in preterm infants: a systematic review.

Dermyshi Elda E Mackie Charley C Kigozi Phoebe P Schoonakker Bernard B Dorling Jon J

BMJ paediatrics open 20180709 1

<h4>Background</h4>Gastro-oesophageal reflux is prevalent in preterm infants. Despite widespread use in clinical practice, there is still much controversy over the efficacy and safety of drug interventions, particularly antacid therapy.<h4>Objective</h4>To systematically review the effects of antacid therapy on preterm infants with symptoms of gastro-oesophageal reflux, and to assess the safety of these interventions.<h4>Methods</h4>We carried out an electronic search of the Cochrane central reg ...[more]

PMID: 30019019

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Project description:BackgroundGuidelines are contradictory regarding the use of alginate in infants with persisting gastroesophageal reflux (GER). While The British National Institute for Health and Care (NICE) guidelines consider alginate as a treatment option, the guidelines of the European and North-American Societies for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN, NASPGHAN) do not recommend alginates.AimsWe assessed the efficacy of alginate to reduce GER episodes in infants.MethodsIn a prospective, observational study, we consecutively enrolled all infants referred for pH-multiple intraluminal impedance (pH-MII) recording because of persisting GER symptoms not responsive to behavior and dietetic modifications. A 48-h pH-MII was performed in all infants; a baseline recording was performed during the first 24 h while magnesium or sodium alginate was administered during the second 24 h. The primary endpoint was the difference in the total number of GER episodes per 24 h between the baseline day and the second day during which the alginate was administered. The secondary outcome was the difference in symptoms between each period. We also compared other pH-MII data from before and during alginate administration.ResultsWe recruited 43 infants (median age 68 days, range 25-306); three pH-MII tracings were excluded because of artifacts. The median number of all MII reflux episodes was significantly reduced during alginate administration (76.0 vs 69.5; p < 0.001). Crying-fussiness, cough and regurgitation episodes all significantly improved during alginate administration (p = 0.00012; p = 0.005 and p = 0.04, respectively). The following MII parameters also decreased during the alginate administration: acid (19.0 vs 14.5; p < 0.04), non-acid (52.0 vs 49.5; p < 0.004), proximal GER episodes (46.0 vs 41.4; p < 0.007), and bolus exposure index (1.9 vs 1.6; p = 0.002). At least three out of seven pH-MII parameters decreased by > 10% during the alginate period in 31/40 infants (77.5%), without a significant difference between magnesium and sodium alginate.ConclusionThese results suggest that alginate significantly decreases the number and extension of both acid and non-acid reflux episodes and associated symptoms in infants.

Project description:Wide variation exists in the treatment of suspected gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in premature infants; it is unknown to what degree diagnosis and treatment are affected by the treating physician's medical specialty or interpretation of the medical literature.This study involved an online survey of board-certified neonatologists, pediatric pulmonologists, and pediatric gastroenterologists about their beliefs regarding the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of GERD in premature infants in the NICU on the basis of both clinical impression and interpretation of the literature.A total of 1021 neonatologists, 232 pediatric pulmonologists, and 222 pediatric gastroenterologists participated in the study (47.5% response rate). There was disagreement among specialists in nearly all aspects of the survey. Pulmonologists were most likely to report that respiratory symptoms are caused by GERD (P < .001). Neonatologists were least likely to report that a therapeutic trial of pharmacologic agents would be useful for diagnosing GERD (P < .001) or that lansoprazole, ranitidine, or cimetidine are safe or effective (P < .001). No pharmacologic therapy had >50% of respondents supporting its effectiveness. There was moderate correlation between physician belief based on the medical literature and belief based on clinical impression (Spearman rank correlation: 0.47-0.75). For therapies supported by multiple meta-analyses in infants versus therapies with few infant trials, physicians rated the evidence for effectiveness similarly.There is wide variation among pediatric specialists regarding beliefs about GERD in premature infants, as well as about the weight of evidence in the medical literature for this patient population. Physician beliefs do not seem to be driven by the degree of evidence in the neonatal literature. With no agreed-on standard of care in the setting of widespread use of antireflux medications, greater understanding is needed about the ways physicians form clinical impressions, access and process medical evidence, and apply it to patient care.

Dataset Information

Antacid therapy for gastroesophageal reflux in preterm infants: a systematic review.

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Trial registration number

Publications

Antacid therapy for gastroesophageal reflux in preterm infants: a systematic review.

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