The impact of gastric acid suppression on the developing intestinal microbiome of a child

Gastric acid suppressing medications have been associated with an increased risk of Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) infection, hypothesized to be due to underlying intestinal microbiome changes. Our goal is to characterize these changes in children as their microbiome is undergoing critical development. Our study included 5 children (< 3 years old) who were started on clinically indicated gastric acid suppression and 15 healthy age-matched controls. Stool samples were collected before and after 2 months of treatment. We analyzed the microbiome using 16S rRNA sequencing. Quantitative-PCR was used to detect C. difficile toxins. Subjects and controls had similar alpha and beta diversity. We found no significant change in alpha or beta diversity of subjects after treatment. C. difficile toxins were not found and there was no increase in C. difficile carriage after treatment. A significant increase in Lactobacillus was found after treatment, which has been associated with C. difficile in adults.

Bleeding Meckel’s Diverticulum in a 33-Year-Old Female Diagnosed with Video Capsule Endoscopy and a Technetium-99 m Pertechnetate Scan with a Favorable Response to H2 Blocker and PPI

Meckel’s diverticulum is a true diverticulum consisting of all three layers of the small intestine resulting from incomplete regression of the vitelline duct. While it is often benign, it can present with serious complications such as intussusception, ulceration, torsion, hemorrhage, obstruction, inflammation, and fistula formation. Although it typically presents in infancy and early childhood, it can also manifest much later into adulthood. We report a case of Meckel’s diverticulum complicated by significant bleeding in a 33-year-old female patient. Diagnosis was accomplished with video capsule endoscopy and a technetium-99 m pertechnetate scan. The patient responded well to acid suppression, initially with an H2 blocker and later with a PPI (proton pump inhibitor), and remained asymptomatic for nearly four months in the interim to definitive surgical treatment. Microscopic examination of the resected diverticulum confirmed the presence of ectopic gastric mucosa. A PubMed literature search revealed several similar cases of Meckel’s diverticulum complicated by hemorrhage with a favorable response to H2 blockers and PPIs. While surgical resection remains the mainstay of definitive treatment, medications aimed at acid suppression can delay the need for urgent surgery, allow for diagnostic assessment, and optimize conditions for elective surgical treatment.

Heartburn as a Marker of the Success of Acid Suppression Therapy in Chronic Cough

Purpose Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is commonly thought to play an important role in chronic cough and patients are often empirically treated with acid suppression therapy. We sought to investigate the response rate to acid suppression treatment in patients with and without heartburn attending two specialist cough clinics. Methods A retrospective review of 558 consecutive patients referred to two specialist cough clinics was performed (UK and USA). Patients who were treated with acid suppression were included and their documented response to treatment was collected. Binary logistic regression was used to ascertain the value of reported heartburn in predicting the response of chronic cough to acid suppression therapy. Results Of 558 consecutive referrals, 238 patients were excluded due to missing data or cough duration of < 8 weeks. The remaining 320 patients were predominantly female (76%), with mean age 61 yrs (± 13) and 96.8% non-smokers, with chronic cough for 36 (18–117) months. Of 72 patients with heartburn, 20 (28%) noted improvement in their cough with acid suppression, whereas of 248 without heartburn, only 35 (14%) responded. Patients reporting heartburn were 2.7 (95% C.I. 1.3–5.6) times more likely to respond to acid suppression therapy (p = 0.007). Conclusion In specialist cough clinics, few patients report a response of their chronic cough to acid suppression therapy. Nonetheless, heartburn is a useful predictor substantially increasing the likelihood of benefit.

Acid Suppression Therapy for the Empirical Treatment of Nausea and Vomiting in Hospitalized Pediatric Patients

Objective: To investigate and compare the safety and efficacy of the empirical use of Histamine-2-receptor antagonists (H2RAs) and Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), for the treatment of unspecified nausea and vomiting (NV) in hospitalized children. Methods: The retrospective cohort study was conducted at King Abdulaziz Medical City in Riyadh (KAMC-R) and included pediatric patients ≤14 years who received acid suppression therapy (AST), H2RAs or PPIs, for the treatment of unspecified NV between April 30, 2018, and April 30, 2019. The primary outcome was the complete resolution of NV within three days of AST. The secondary outcomes were the frequency of rescue medication use, the number of vomiting episodes since starting the AST, and the adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Results: Sixty-two patients were included in the study, 25 (40.3%) were in the H2RAs group and 37 (59.7%) in the PPIs group. The mean age was 3.69 ± 4.13 years, with the majority male (64.5%). Overall, 87% (n=54) of the sample had complete resolution of NV within 3 days of the AST therapy with no difference between the H2RAs and PPIs groups (p=0.344). The number of NV episodes from initiating the AST until the complete resolution was similar between the groups. In total, 14 patients (25.9%) required rescue therapy with granisetron, 6 (26.1%) in the H2RAs group compared to 8 (25.8%) in the PPIs group. There was no difference in the number of the required granisetron doses or the incidence of ADRs. Conclusion: Both PPIs and H2RAs were effective and safe for the treatment of unspecified NV in hospitalized pediatric patients. The selection of either agent should be based on other factors. Keywords: Pediatric; Nausea and vomiting; Proton pump inhibitor; Histamine-2-receptor antagonist; Granisetron.

Heartburn As a Marker of the Success of Acid Suppression Therapy in Chronic Cough.

Purpose: Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is commonly thought to play an important role in chronic cough and patients are often empirically treated with acid suppression therapy. We sought to investigate the response rate to acid suppression treatment in patients with and without heartburn attending two specialist cough clinics. Methods: A retrospective review of 558 consecutive patients referred to two specialist cough clinics was performed (UK and US). Patients who were treated with acid suppression were included and their documented response to treatment collected. Binary logistic regression was used to ascertain the value of reported heartburn in predicting the response of chronic cough to acid suppression therapy. Results: Of 558 consecutive referrals, 238 patients were excluded due to missing data or cough duration of <8weeks. The remaining 320 patients were predominantly female (76%), mean age 61yrs (±13), 96.8% non-smokers, with chronic cough for 36 (18-117) months. Of 72 patients with heartburn, 20 (28%) noted improvement in their cough with acid suppression, whereas of 248 without heartburn, only 35 (14%) responded. Patients reporting heartburn were 2.7 (95% C.I. 1.3-5.6) times more likely to respond to acid suppression therapy (p=0.007).Conclusion: In specialist cough clinics, few patients report a response of their chronic cough to acid suppression therapy. Nonetheless, heartburn is a useful predictor substantially increasing the likelihood of benefit.