Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), long thought to be safe, are associated with a number of nonkidney adverse health outcomes and several untoward kidney outcomes, including hypomagnesemia, acute kidney injury, acute interstitial nephritis, incident chronic kidney disease, kidney disease progression, kidney failure, and increased risk for all-cause mortality and mortality due to chronic kidney disease. PPIs are abundantly prescribed, rarely deprescribed, and frequently purchased over the counter. They are frequently used without medical indication, and when medically indicated, they are often used for much longer than needed. In this In Practice review, we summarize evidence linking PPI use with adverse events in general and adverse kidney outcomes in particular. We review the literature on the association of PPI use and risk for hypomagnesemia, acute kidney injury, acute interstitial nephritis, incident chronic kidney disease, kidney disease progression, end-stage kidney disease, and death. We provide an assessment of how this evidence should inform clinical practice. We review the impact of this evidence on patients' perception of risk, synthesize PPI deprescription literature, and provide our recommendations on how to approach PPI use and deprescription.
Clinical VignetteA patient with a history of hypertension, congestive heart failure, and peptic ulcer disease underwent hospitalization and blood transfusion 6 months ago. He was treated with pantoprazole, 40 mg, once daily and a Helicobacter pylori eradication regimen and continued to be on pantoprazole treatment. He was admitted to the hospital from the primary care clinic following laboratory findings indicating an increase in serum creatinine (Scr) level from 1.4 to 5.4 mg/dL. During his hospital stay, Scr level continued to increase and peaked at 11 mg/dL. Workup revealed proteinuria with protein excretion of 700 mg/d, and kidney biopsy revealed diffuse acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) and acute tubular injury. Pantoprazole was suspected as the likely culprit and because he had completed more than 6 months of treatment, it was stopped. He was treated with a steroid regimen and his Scr level improved to 1.7 mg/dL.Six months after the hospitalization with AIN, the patient reported dyspepsia to his primary care physician, and treatment with oral omeprazole, 20 mg, once a day was started. On a follow-up visit, he was noted to have an Scr level of 8.6 mg/dL. He was then admitted to the hospital and underwent kidney biopsy that revealed acute-on-chronic interstitial nephritis. Omeprazole therapy was stopped, and he was treated with steroids. His kidney function partially improved with an Scr level of 3.2 mg/dL. The patient was subsequently managed with ranitidine with satisfactory symptom relief.