Review article: fast acid control and rapid symptom relief for patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease – the evidence from proton pump inhibitor studies

Because of their potent, rapid antisecretory effects, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are the mainstay of treatment for patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD), providing fast symptom relief and increased mucosal healing.

A review of the clinical data suggests that subpopulations of patients with GERD – non-erosive symptomatic GERD (NERD), and erosive oesophagitis (EO) – derive significant benefits from fast-acting PPIs. Patients with EO receiving fast-acting PPIs experienced rapid relief of daytime and night-time heartburn and related symptoms, with associated increases in quality of life (QoL). Similar benefits were observed for patients with NERD. Patients with EO and NERD showed significant symptom relief within the first day of treatment, which was most evident following lansoprazole, esomeprazole and rabeprazole. When used as long-term on-demand/intermittent therapy, fast-acting PPIs significantly improved symptom relief and patient's QoL by reducing treatment discontinuation rates.

In conclusion, fast-acting antisecretory PPIs should be considered as optimal therapy for rapid symptom relief in different patient subpopulations with GERD.