Pharmacologic treatment of GERD in adolescents: Is esophageal mucosal protection an option?
Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is still a challenging and difficult to treat condition in children. Although acid suppression represents the mainstay of treatment in adolescents, it is not devoid of adverse events, especially in the long-term. Objectives: In this investigation we...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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SAGE Publishing
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/17562848221115319 |
| _version_ | 1811319865127993344 |
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| author | Claudio Romano Carmelo Scarpignato |
| author_facet | Claudio Romano Carmelo Scarpignato |
| author_sort | Claudio Romano |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is still a challenging and difficult to treat condition in children. Although acid suppression represents the mainstay of treatment in adolescents, it is not devoid of adverse events, especially in the long-term. Objectives: In this investigation we explored a new therapeutic avenue in GERD, that is esophageal mucosal protection. Design: To this end, we performed an investigator-initiated, retrospective study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a short-term treatment with Esoxx™ medical device in 25 adolescents with GERD-related symptoms. This mucoadhesive formulation contains two natural mucopolysaccharides (sodium hyaluronate and chondroitin sulphate) and adheres to the esophageal mucosa, exerting a protective effect against refluxed gastric contents and allowing mucosal healing. Methods: Heartburn, epigastric burning and post-prandial regurgitation were scored with a pain VAS scale and re-evaluated after 3-week treatment with Esoxx (one stick post-prandially, three times daily). Results: All patients completed the treatment without adverse effects and with good tolerability and compliance. All the three major symptoms significantly (p<0.001) improved after treatment. No patient required additional investigation (i.e. upper Gastrointestinal endoscopy) or medication (i.e. antisecretory drugs). Conclusion: The results of this pilot study suggest that esophageal mucosal protection is a promising therapeutic avenue for GERD also in children. Provided, these data be confirmed by a large, randomized clinical trial, this medical device can enter our therapeutic armamentarium against this challenging disease. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:49:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-031dc4911d4544379ddc7e0045e61373 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-2848 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T12:49:50Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology |
| spelling | doaj.art-031dc4911d4544379ddc7e0045e613732022-12-22T02:46:14ZengSAGE PublishingTherapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology1756-28482022-08-011510.1177/17562848221115319Pharmacologic treatment of GERD in adolescents: Is esophageal mucosal protection an option?Claudio RomanoCarmelo ScarpignatoBackground: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is still a challenging and difficult to treat condition in children. Although acid suppression represents the mainstay of treatment in adolescents, it is not devoid of adverse events, especially in the long-term. Objectives: In this investigation we explored a new therapeutic avenue in GERD, that is esophageal mucosal protection. Design: To this end, we performed an investigator-initiated, retrospective study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a short-term treatment with Esoxx™ medical device in 25 adolescents with GERD-related symptoms. This mucoadhesive formulation contains two natural mucopolysaccharides (sodium hyaluronate and chondroitin sulphate) and adheres to the esophageal mucosa, exerting a protective effect against refluxed gastric contents and allowing mucosal healing. Methods: Heartburn, epigastric burning and post-prandial regurgitation were scored with a pain VAS scale and re-evaluated after 3-week treatment with Esoxx (one stick post-prandially, three times daily). Results: All patients completed the treatment without adverse effects and with good tolerability and compliance. All the three major symptoms significantly (p<0.001) improved after treatment. No patient required additional investigation (i.e. upper Gastrointestinal endoscopy) or medication (i.e. antisecretory drugs). Conclusion: The results of this pilot study suggest that esophageal mucosal protection is a promising therapeutic avenue for GERD also in children. Provided, these data be confirmed by a large, randomized clinical trial, this medical device can enter our therapeutic armamentarium against this challenging disease.https://doi.org/10.1177/17562848221115319 |
| spellingShingle | Claudio Romano Carmelo Scarpignato Pharmacologic treatment of GERD in adolescents: Is esophageal mucosal protection an option? Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology |
| title | Pharmacologic treatment of GERD in adolescents: Is esophageal mucosal protection an option? |
| title_full | Pharmacologic treatment of GERD in adolescents: Is esophageal mucosal protection an option? |
| title_fullStr | Pharmacologic treatment of GERD in adolescents: Is esophageal mucosal protection an option? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pharmacologic treatment of GERD in adolescents: Is esophageal mucosal protection an option? |
| title_short | Pharmacologic treatment of GERD in adolescents: Is esophageal mucosal protection an option? |
| title_sort | pharmacologic treatment of gerd in adolescents is esophageal mucosal protection an option |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/17562848221115319 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT claudioromano pharmacologictreatmentofgerdinadolescentsisesophagealmucosalprotectionanoption AT carmeloscarpignato pharmacologictreatmentofgerdinadolescentsisesophagealmucosalprotectionanoption |