High Versus Standard Dose of Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) in Peptic Ulcer Bleeding

High intravenous dosage of Proton Pump Inhibitors is not better than standard dosage in bleeding peptic ulcers successfully treated by endoscopic therapy

The recent Canadian consensus conference on the management of patients with non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding recommends a high regimen of PPIs, consisting in a dosage of 80-mg bolus followed by the 8 mg/H infusion, as being superior to the standard dosage (40 mg twice daily by bolus injection) in conjunction with some type of endoscopic therapy. However, by pooling data fromm studies comparing high doses of PPIs as continuous infusion versus regular doses as intermittent bolus, rebleeding, surgery, and mortality were not significantly different. As the previous conclusion became apparent in a meta-analytical evaluation of only 2 randomized clinical trials, more studies are needed on this topic.

• Peptic Ulcers
• Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

• Drug: omeprazole
• Drug: pantoprazole

• Andriulli A, Annese V, Caruso N, Pilotto A, Accadia L, Niro AG, Quitadamo M, Merla A, Fiorella S, Leandro G. Proton-pump inhibitors and outcome of endoscopic hemostasis in bleeding peptic ulcers: a series of meta-analyses. Am J Gastroenterol. 2005 Jan;100(1):207-19.
• Andriulli A, Loperfido S, Focareta R, Leo P, Fornari F, Garripoli A, Tonti P, Peyre S, Spadaccini A, Marmo R, Merla A, Caroli A, Forte GB, Belmonte A, Aragona G, Imperiali G, Forte F, Monica F, Caruso N, Perri F. High- versus low-dose proton pump inhibitors after endoscopic hemostasis in patients with peptic ulcer bleeding: a multicentre, randomized study. Am J Gastroenterol. 2008 Dec;103(12):3011-8.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Consecutive patients admitted for upper gastrointestinal bleeding secondary to peptic ulcers that have been successfully treated with endoscopic therapy

Exclusion Criteria:

• Variceal esophageal bleeding
• Concurrent PPI use
• Moribund patients