Proton pump inhibitors for Barrett's oesophagus

Abstract

Barrett's oesophagus is a metaplastic condition in which the normal squamous oesophageal epithelium is replaced by specialised intestinal metaplasia. 1 Barrett's oesophagus occurs in about 10% of patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) and predisposes to dysplasia and adenocarcinoma. The incidence of oesophageal and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma is rapidly increasing by a rate exceeding that of any other cancer. 3 4 Over the past decade, acid suppression with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) has become the mainstay of treatment of patients with Barrett's oesophagus. This article reviews the specific end points of such treatment.