Use of PPI can damage the kidneys

According to the new studies, which is likely to be presented at the American Society of Nephrology Kidney Week 2015, which will take place next week in San Diego, says that the medications which are being used to treat Acid reflux and heartburn are most likely to damage the kidneys by increasing the risk of chronic kidney disease. At present, more than 20 million Americans have this disease which is known as chronic kidney disease, and its prevalence is increasing most rapidly in people above the age of 60. PPIs (proton pump inhibitors) is the medication which is used to treat acid reflux and heartburn, it is among the list of top 10 most prescribed drug in the United States.

Use of PPI can damage the kidneys

“In both studies, people who used a different class of medications to suppress stomach acid, known as H2-blockers, did not have a higher risk of developing kidney disease.” Says Benjamin Lazarus, from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. He says that if they can determine the adverse effects of PPI medications, they can eventually design much better interventions to reduce its overuse. These drugs act by lowering the amount of hydrochloric acid present in stomach which is produced by the mucosal lining in the stomach, thus relieving symptoms of acid reflux, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and peptic or stomach ulcers. They also treat the damage caused to the lower oesophagus that occurs due to the result of acid reflex.

When researchers accounted to know the baseline differences between PPI users and non-users, they found out that PPI users were 20-50% more likely to develop CKD than those who are non-users. People don’t feel CKD when it is at its initial stage, the symptoms are not so noticeable, so specific blood and urine tests are used for diagnosis.