The long term use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), a class of drugs widely used to treat acid reflux and ulcers, may not be linked to any increased risk of developing gastric (stomach) cancer, finds a study of Nordic health data published by The BMJ today.
This finding should offer relief for patients needing long term proton pump inhibitor therapy and is valuable for clinical decision making in healthcare settings, say the researchers.
A fear that proton pump inhibitors could lead to stomach cancer has been ongoing since the 1980s. Recent research has linked their use to around a twofold increased risk, but the literature is hampered by several methodological limitations, making this possible association uncertain.
To help clarify whether long term use of proton pump inhibitors is associated with…