Proton Pump Inhibitors are Risk Factors for Viral Infections: Even for COVID-19?
- PDF / 480,110 Bytes
- 3 Pages / 595.276 x 790.866 pts Page_size
- 51 Downloads / 198 Views
CURRENT OPINION
Proton Pump Inhibitors are Risk Factors for Viral Infections: Even for COVID‑19? Bruno Charpiat1 · Nathalie Bleyzac1,2 · Michel Tod1,2
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
Abstract During the ongoing pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), more attention should be paid to the balance of risks and benefits associated with proton pump inhibitors for the following reasons. One of the main functions of gastric juice is to inactivate swallowed microorganisms, thereby inhibiting infectious agents from reaching the intestine. Studies have documented that proton pump inhibitors are a risk factor for rotavirus, influenza virus, norovirus, and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infections, and are associated with an increased risk of acute gastroenteritis during periods of highest circulation of enteric viruses. In light of the evidence for gastrointestinal infection implying a fecal–oral transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and given the magnitude of the SARS-CoV-2/coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, associated with the widespread misuse of proton pump inhibitors, this suggests that we should not rule out the hypothesis that patients treated with proton pump inhibitors may be more at risk of being infected by SARS-CoV-2. Key Points Studies have documented that proton pump inhibitors are a risk factor for rotavirus, influenza virus, norovirus, and Middle East respiratory coronavirus infections, and are associated with an increased risk of acute gastroenteritis during periods of highest circulation of enteric viruses. Regarding severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), there is evidence for gastrointestinal infection and a fecal–oral transmission. Given the wide misuse of proton pump inhibitors and the magnitude of the SARS-CoV-2/coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, this is a serious invitation, once more, to discontinue proton pump inhibitors in patients who do not really need them.
1 Introduction During the ongoing pandemic of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), there is a growing interest in how exposure to certain medicines affects the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection [1]. We suggest that more attention should be paid to the balance of risks and benefits associated with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for the following reasons. Proton pump inhibitors are among the top ten most widely used drugs in the world [2]. In less than 30 years, PPIs have gone from miracle drug to a major healthcare epidemic for two reasons; they are prescribed without a clear indication in up to 70% of cases, and long-term use of PPIs exposes patients to potential side effects that contribute to significant negative impacts at a population level [2].
2 Gastric Acid, Proton Pump Inhibitors, and Viral Infections * Bruno Charpiat bruno.charpiat@chu‑lyon.fr 1
Service Pharmacie, Hôpital de La Croix-Rousse, Groupement Hospitalier Nord, Hospices Civils de Lyon, 103 Grande Rue de la Croix‑Rousse, 69004 Lyon, France
EMR 3738, Ciblage, Thérapeutique e
Data Loading...
