In a recent study, investigators in the Netherlands prospectively evaluated 599 consecutive patients who underwent upper endoscopy. The presence or absence of fundic-gland polyps was noted in each patient; gastric mucosa and polyp biopsy specimens were collected. Survey answers about PPI use (dosage and duration) were validated using office or hospital records.
The conclusion: Acid suppression produces parietal-cell hyperplasia. Parietal cells are large peripheral cells of the mucous membrane of the stomach that secrete hydrochloric acid. Hyperplasia means an increase in the number of the cells. This study suggests that, during acid suppression with PPIs, such hyperplasia can lead to fundic-gland polyps in a time-dependent fashion. However, as the authors point out, fundic-gland polyps have little, if any, clinical significance, as they generally are not dysplastic and do not progress to premalignant or malignant lesions.
For more information on this study, you can read this abstract.
I am surprised that no comments have been made. I have been researching and experimenting since polyps were sporadically detected in my stomach about 5 years ago about 1 year after start of a PPI. Even the linked articles to your comment show controversy. Individual case reports have found adenomas of the gastric mucosa in sporadic fundic gland polyposis only when the WHOLE polyp was removed. Associations to colonic polyps have also been made. The fundal polyps have been considered trivial but in North America the chances of finding EARLY gastric cancer are almost neglible. We are just now regularly screening for colonic polyps in those >50y because of the evidence (diet,and genetic connections) No one truly knows because the surveillance data for GASTRIC polyps is not there. The PPI use has expanded to the OTC market so we have yet to see the outcomes.
So far I have shown improvement by changing and reducing the dose of my PPI. The drug safety department of the manufacturer knows about my experience but neither further endoscopic surveillance or genetic testing is planned by my gastroenterologist at this time. I have had symptoms and changes to my iron indicies which have improved. I am hopeful that this is a good sign and pray that I have nothing further to expect. More information has come out of Japan where gastric cancer is more prevalent and where early detection by gastric surveillance has become as common as colonic surveillance here. Five years ago I could find little on this topic – now there is experience, assessments and judgements being made.
I have been taking PPIs (Prevacid) for many years and I was recently diagnosed with multiple stomach polyps. Some were also large >2cm. My doctor took biopsies of several, but none of them came back for any type of cancer. She did say she was concerned because of the number and size, so I opted to quit taking the PPIs and started using Zantac instead (doesn’t work as well). The reason I did this though was because I had read that when others stopped taking the PPIs, the polyps went away. I’m going to stop for 3 months and then they’re going to do another endoscopy to check. I have my fingers crossed!
I was recently diagnosed with Fundic Gland Polyps of the Gastric Mucos. These are a result of long-term PPI therapy. I am wondering why this is not listed in side effects. I have been told by my internist (presently I live in Germany) that I should be scoped yearly.
I underwent a gastroscopy/endoscopy yesterday because of severe gastric pain and abdominal bloating. I’ve been on Nexium for at least 4 years for a duodenal ulcer. The gastroscopy showed multiple gastric fundus polyps ranging from 5 – 20mm diameter, almost certainly cystic fundal gland polyps secondary to the long term use of Nexium.
The doctor has taken biopsies to confirm the diagnosis. It is alarming that a medication I’ve taken for years has caused this, and the pain I’ve been having for the last few months is worse than the pain from the duodenal ulcer! I think I’ll go off the Nexium and see if the symptoms improve with NO treatment at all.
I’ve been taking Prevacid for almost 5 yrs now. During an endoscopy 4 yrs ago, my doctor removed 4 fundic polyps. He didn’t mention any connection with the PPI use and didn’t seem concerned enough to follow up with any further endoscopies. During a CT Scan a month ago it was noted unusual thickening of the stomach lining. An endoscopy was ordered and it showed numerous fundic polyps ranging from 2mm to 8 mm in size. I’m still awaiting the biopsy report but considering I also have had colon poyps I’m questioning why my GI didn’t make a connection or follow up sooner.
I was just diagnosed with several gastric polyps (about 30) and I have been on either Protonix or Prilosec for several years for acid reflux. No doctor ever told me about these possible long term side effects and I never read it on any of the pharmacology papers either. I am very frustrated and dissapointed with the health care industry right now. Now I am trying to get off of them having to ween myself off slowly for fear of rebound acid reflux. I was told to take Zantac instead, but worried there will also be some long term effect that no one mentions about.
Two weeks ago my doctor found around 100 gastric benign fundic gland polyps. The cause for my iron deficiency was found – bleeding polyps. Due to bleeding he only removed eight. This week I go in to have him remove more and this will be done every two weeks. Doctor did not have a reason for why these developed in the past three years since my last endoscope. I’ve been on Acifex, Nexium, Prilosec,…for years. This past year I had chemotherapy for breast cancer. Maybe the chemo? Right now it looks more like PPI.
I went to the ER in October with upper right quadrant pain. I thought my gall bladder was the problem. After several tests with no findings, I was referred to a gastroenterologist. An endoscopy was performed in December. The doctor was quite shocked. He found what he described as “hundreds” of gastric polys, some measuring over 2cm. He said he has never seen a case this severe and referred me to Stanford University. I have an appointment on March 5. The photos are just astounding. There was no sign of a polyp on my last endo ~5 years ago. I have been on Aciphex for about 10 years. I hope to get some answers at Stanford.
I to just got back from having a enoscopy done. My results we’re the same as the people on this site. I go back in two weeks. The doctor told me that I too have multiple polyps and. They are 5 mm to 1.5 cm. In size.
I have been on nexium for over 20 yrs. I will update you on my outcome.
Just got back from the endoscopy and I also have been on prevacid for 3
years. The Doctor found multiple polyps. I go back in 5 days for results. I dont believe these multiple polyps are cancerous. I have no history of polyps in the colon and have been scoped many times.I am a 57 year old female. Will update results.
Just heard from the Dr. that the polyps were non- malignant. I am considering a change from prevacid. However from what I’ve read nothing works as well.
The pictures from my endoscopy are startling. I too have too many of these polyps to count – they look like a cluster of grapes and some are very red and nasty looking. My doctor called me the next day to report that they were benign and they would never become cancer. Still, I feel very uncomfortable knowing they are there. I have gnawing pain in my stomach most of the time. I am considering getting a second opinion, as I am very disappointed in my gastro dr. right now. Had a bad flair with my Crohn’s a few weeks ago and couldn’t even get dr. to work me in or call me back. Found out later he called in a larger dose of Prednisone for me and didn’t even bother to tell me – I found out when I went to the pharmacy to pick up my other meds.
Last September I had an endoscopy, first time in my life, due to chest pain that was not a heart attack as some thought. Result? A 2.5 cm polyp that was biopsied had some”frank cancer cells” within. Adenocarcinoma, Stage 1. Rarely have I ever needed an antacid or PPi until just this last year. My guess is prolonged use of ibuprofen for back pain that disturbed the stomach lining coupled with inherited cancer risk from Dad’s side of family. Treatment? Removal of 75% of stomach. No chemo or radiation since it was found so early. GI told me to take omezaprole so I could digest more easily with what was left of my stomach. After reading these threads and other sites about ppis causing polyps–unh unh–No Way will I take another ppi.