Effectiveness of Physiologic Testing in PPI Non-Responders

The prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease is estimated to be as high as 20% in the United States, and up to 50% of these patients remain symptomatic on proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy. Unfortunately, the clinical approach to understand the mechanism of nonresponse is not standardized, and patients will often undergo various esophageal function tests: 1) pH-impedance, 2) wireless pH monitoring over 96 hours, 3) high-resolution impedance manometry (HRIM), and 4) mucosal impedance. Currently significant controversy exists regarding the best technique, optimal study protocol and treatment approach for the PPI non-responder (PPINR) group, resulting in inappropriate resource utilization and a failure to provide effective personalized care. As such, PPINRs contribute to a large healthcare burden in the United States.

The first aim of the study is to identify the relevant physiologic parameters of the aforementioned diagnostic tools in their ability to predict PPI requirement. Subsequently, in Aim Two, these results will be applied to guide the formal development of a clinical algorithm for the management of PPINRs with personalized clinical pathways based on mechanism of treatment failure.

The investigators will first perform a prospective comparison trial of 240 PPINR subjects at two centers over a 4 year period. Subjects will complete symptom questionnaires and undergo diagnostic testing (pH-impedance on PPI therapy, HRIM, 96-hthe wireless pH monitoring off of PPI therapy and mucosal impedance). Those who have a positive pH study and/or resume PPI therapy will receive escalation of acid suppression therapy with dexlansoprazole. Experiments 1a & 1b will compare the ability of 96-hthe wireless pH monitoring vs pH impedance to predict PPI requirement and response to dexlansoprazole, respectively. Experiment 1c will explore whether mucosal impedance is equivalent to 96-hthe wireless pH monitoring in predicting PPI requirement. Lastly, Experiment 1d will determine whether HRIM metrics can be utilized to determine reflux burden, mechanism and response to treatment. Next, the investigators will develop quality measures for reflux testing in order to develop a simplified management strategy for the PPINR group. The RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Methodology will be utilized with an expert working group to develop formal validated quality measures for reflux testing based on results from aim 1 in addition to the available literature & evidence. This will be conducted over twelve months (years 4 to 5).

Inclusion criteria

• Male or female subjects aged 18-80 years old (females of childbearing potential should be on highly effective contraceptive methods)
• Mentally capable to provide informed consent in English
• Present to the Northwestern Medical Group GI practice or the Washington University Division of Gastroenterology with symptoms of GERD (heartburn, regurgitation, and non-cardiac chest pain)
• Have failed an appropriate compliant trial of PPI therapy with a GERD-Q score ≥8.
• Able to undergo endoscopy, ambulatory reflux monitoring, manometry, PPI therapy cessation and trial of dexlansoprazole therapy. Subjects with Los Angeles Classification Grade A (mild) or B esophagitis and symptomatic, non-erosive disease will be enrolled.

Exclusion criteria

• Participation in a concurrent clinical trial or completed another trial within past 8 weeks.
• Active severe erosive esophagitis (Los Angeles Grade C or D), long-segment Barrett's esophagus (Zap score of 4)
• Eosinophilic esophagitis
• Prior gastrointestinal surgery of the esophagus and/or stomach
• Current treatment with dexlansoprazole
• Current signs or symptoms of heart disease. All patients with non-cardiac chest pain are required to have a cardiologist evaluation as standard of care work up in the evaluation of non-cardiac chest pain.
• Subjects with clinically abnormal results of the screening ECG and/or chemistry panel (particularly prolonged QTc interval or hypomagnesaemia) excluded from the dexlansoprazole trial. Subjects with sensitivities or allergies to the metals contained in the Bravo capsule including chromium, nickel, copper, cobalt, and iron.
• Unstable medical illness with ongoing diagnostic work-up and treatment. Patients with well-controlled hypertension, diabetes and a remote history of ischemic heart disease that is deemed stable, as judged by the investigator can be included.
• History of drug addiction, drug abuse or alcoholism.
• Current neurologic or cognitive impairment, which would preclude ability to obtain informed consent.
• Pregnant patients.
• Patients with Cirrhosis (Childs Classification A-C).Special vulnerable populations including children, prisoners, institutionalized individuals.
• Bleeding disorder or requirement of NSAID/aspirin during monitoring period.
• Drugs that affect gastrointestinal symptoms (H2 blockers, antacids, metoclopramide, domperidone, erythromycin, anticholinergics [bentyl, levsin, belladonna etc.]). Antidepressants can be continued at stable dose.
• Drugs listed on the Dexilant label including antiretrovirals (Rilpivirine-containing products, Atazanavir, Nelfinavir, Saquinavir, etc), Warfarin, Methotrexate, Drugs Dependent on Gastric pH for Absorption (e.g., iron salts, erlotinib, dasatinib, nilotinib, mycophenolate mofetil, ketoconazole/itraconazole), Tacrolimus, CYP2C19 or CYP3A4 Inducers or inhibitors.
• Patients found to have achalasia, a spastic disorder, hypercontractile disorder or functional obstruction at the esophagogastric junction will be excluded. Subjects with a history of structuring or narrowing upon endoscopy (Subjects with no such history will be enrolled; however, if such features are noted upon endoscopy during the study, these subjects will not undergo MI testing).