Efficacy of vonoprazan for initial and maintenance therapy in reflux esophagitis, nonerosive esophagitis, and proton pump inhibitor-resistant gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been the first line treatment for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of vonoprazan (VPZ), a potassium-competitive acid blocker for reflux esophagitis (RE), nonerosive reflux disease (NERD), and PPI-resistant GERD patients.An open-label, single-center, observational study in our hospital was performed from August 2016 to August 2017. All patients diagnosed with GERD were asked to self-report a questionnaire of frequency scale for the symptoms of GERD (FSSG) and rate their degree of satisfaction with the treatment of GERD during outpatient visit. A total of 200 (RE 47, NERD 49, PPI-resistant GERD 104) patients were included in the present study. The primary endpoint was the change of FSSG and the proportion of degree of satisfaction with the treatment at the end of the initial therapy. A percentage of improvement (improvement rate) and resolution (resolution rate) at the end of the initial therapy were evaluated. Secondary endpoint included the proportion of patients with symptomatic relapse in the 24-week maintenance phase.FSSG and the degree of satisfaction were significantly improved after the initial therapy in every group. Improvement and resolution rate after the initial therapy were 83.0% and 67.0% in RE, 66.7% and 60.4% in NERD, and 76.0% and 60.4% in PPI-resistant group. There was no significance between after the initial therapy and 24 weeks in improvement and resolution rate. Thirty-two of the total 48 patients did not take VPZ at 24 weeks. Total FSSG score in each group was 1.67 +/- 1.97, 2.71 +/- 4.91, and 4.0 +/- 4.93. The nonrelapse rate at 24 weeks in each group was 66.7%, 60.0%, and 50.0%. The resolution rate at 24 weeks in each group was 38.9%, 45.0%, and 30.0%.The VPZ therapy is effective for initial and maintenance therapy and improves heartburn and patient's satisfaction significantly in all 3 groups. Among patients who stopped taking VPZ during the maintenance period, 42.0% of RE and NERD group and 30% of PPI-resistant group experience complete remission from GERD at 24 weeks by introduction of VPZ.