Study of GERD in Scleroderma Patients

Many people living with scleroderma suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), where the digestive acids in the stomach back up into the esophagus causing an uncomfortable burning sensation, often called acid indigestion or heartburn.

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Many people who suffer from GERD are prescribed omeprazole, but scleroderma patients are often resistant to the drug.  A phase 3 clinical trial is currently being carried out by the Khon Kaen University in Thailand, looking at the efficacy of proton-pump inhibitor omeprazole in people with scleroderma who are omeprazole-resistant.

The study aims to look at three main factors:

• To determine how many scleroderma-GERD patients are omeprazole-resistant.
• To compare the efficacy of omeprazole when used in conjunction with the organic salt algycon and the anti-sickness medication domperidone on the severity of symptoms
• To compare the efficacy of omeprazole when used in conjunction with the organic salt algycon and the anti-sickness medication domperidone on the frequency of symptoms.

Results of the clinical trial are due to be published in either late 2019 or early 2020.

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