Vonoprazan 10 mg daily is effective for the treatment of patients with proton pump inhibitor-resistant gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is commonly treated by primary care physicians. Although proton pump inhibitors (PPI) have been the mainstay of GERD treatment for two decades, in some patients GERD is refractory to standard dose PPI for more than eight weeks and is referred to as PPI-resistant GERD. Vonoprazan, a novel competitive acid blocker, became available in Japan for the treatment of patients with GERD, and has greater acid inhibition than existing PPIs. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of vonoprazan 10 mg daily on PPI-resistant GERD. We retrospectively reviewed 24 patients with PPI-resistant GERD treated with vonoprazan 10 mg daily. The Izumo scale was used to evaluate the effect of vonoprazan before and one month after treatment, which reflects quality of life related to gastrointestinal symptoms. The overall rates of improvement and resolution of GERD symptoms were 88% (21/24) and 42% (10/24), respectively, and the score was significantly decreased (before 5.8±1.7, at one month 1.9±1.9, P<0.001). To evaluate the influence of esophageal erosions despite prior PPI treatment, the patients were divided into erosive (n=6) and non-erosive groups (n=18). Vonoprazan achieved 100% (6/6) improvement in the erosive group and 83% (15/18) in the non-erosive group. Patients in the erosive group had a significantly higher rate of resolution than in the non-erosive group [83% (5/6) vs 28% (5/18), P=0.017]. No adverse events occurred. Other GI symptoms in patients with PPI-resistant GERD were evaluated. The scores for epigastric pain, postprandial distress, constipation and diarrhea were unchanged during the treatment period. In conclusion, vonoprazan 10 mg daily is effective for the treatment of patients with PPI-resistant GERD. Vonoprazan resolves GERD symptoms in patients with erosions more than in those without erosions. This is the first report on the effect of vonoprazan 10 mg on PPI-resistant GERD.