Meta-Analysis
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World J Gastroenterol. Mar 7, 2014; 20(9): 2412-2419
Published online Mar 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i9.2412
Addition of prokinetics to PPI therapy in gastroesophageal reflux disease: A meta-analysis
Li-Hua Ren, Wei-Xu Chen, Li-Juan Qian, Shuo Li, Min Gu, Rui-Hua Shi
Li-Hua Ren, Wei-Xu Chen, Shuo Li, Min Gu, Rui-Hua Shi, Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China
Li-Juan Qian, Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, Jiangsu Province, China
Author contributions: Ren LH, Chen WX, Qian LJ and Li S performed the research; Ren LH wrote the manuscript; Gu M contributed new reagents and analytical tools; Shi RH designed the study.
Supported by A grant from the Innovative Team Project to Shi RH, No. CX11
Correspondence to: Rui-Hua Shi, MD, PhD, Department of Gastroenterology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300 Guangzhou Road, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu Province, China. ruihuashi@126.com
Telephone: +86-25-83674636 Fax: +86-25-83674636
Received: October 26, 2013
Revised: December 3, 2013
Accepted: January 2, 2014
Published online: March 7, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are generally accepted as the standard treatment of care for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, many patients undergoing PPI treatment have no effective symptomatic relief. Although many studies have shown the clinical efficacy of adding prokinetics to PPI therapy in GERD, others have shown no therapeutic benefit. The efficacy and safety of combined prokinetic and PPI therapy for GERD remain controversial. In this retrospective meta-analysis, we find no advantage for the addition of prokinetics to a PPI therapeutic regimen, relative to PPI alone. However, combination therapy may improve symptom score and patient quality of life.