Amil-Dias J.: Proton-Pump Inhibitors in Paediatric Practice
Today, listeners, please welcome to the ESPGHAN podcast Dr Jorge Amil-Dias, Emeritus Professor of Paediatrics, who retired in 2020 as Paediatric Gastroenterologist-in-Chief at the Departamento de Pediatria – Centro Hospitalar S. João, in Porto. He remains active both clinically and in ESPGHAN affairs, and today he wishes to discuss the use of proton-pump inhibitors. Four articles on this topic that he recommends are listed in the commentary accompanying today’s podcast, which you can find on the ESPGHAN website.
We’ll come to that theme in due course, but first a few words about Prof Amil-Dias himself. To judge by his curriculum vitae, he is a truly hard-core Tripeiro: born in Porto, raised in Porto, educated in Porto, and successful in Porto. He would have been a gold-star Portuense had he only stayed at home between 1990 and 1991; instead, he was a research fellow and registrar at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London. Well, as the weavers’ proverb goes, only God creates perfection; every carpet must have a flaw.
His list of publications is extensive, and as he progressed through the academic ranks, the range of topics he addressed broadened considerably. Among these, perhaps the most focused and coherent—and therefore, in Prof Amil-Dias’ own view, the most important—are two series of work: one contributing to the understanding of osmolality in rehydration, and the other shaping the criteria for recognising, differentiating, and treating inflammatory bowel disease, known eponymously as the Porto Criteria. Today, however, he wishes to focus on proton-pump inhibitors in children: their benefits, indications, safety, risk–benefit balance, and the public perception of treatment with these agents.
Sir, welcome! Why proton-pump inhibitors today?
Literature
Cohen S et al. Adverse effects reported in the use of gastroesophageal reflux disease treatments in children: A 10-year literature review. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2015 Aug;80(2):200–208. doi:10.1111/bcp.12619. Epub 2015 Jun 11. PMID: 25752807. PMCID: PMC4541968.
Gieruszczak-Białek D et al. No effect of proton pump inhibitors on crying and irritability in infants: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials. J Pediatr. 2015 Mar;166(3):767–770.e3. doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2014.11.030. Epub 2014 Dec 30. PMID: 25556017.
O’Reilly D et al. Use of anti-reflux medications in infants under 1 year of age: A retrospective drug utilization study using national prescription reimbursement data. Eur J Pediatr. 2020 Dec;179(12):1963–1967. doi:10.1007/s00431-020-03837-8. Epub 2020 Oct 14. PMID: 33051717.
Orel R et al. Drugs in focus: Proton pump inhibitors. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2021 May 1;72(5):645–653. doi:10.1097/MPG.0000000000003063. PMID: 33847286.