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According to one study, prescription drugs meant to reduce stomach acid are badociated with an increased risk of developing allergies.
Research suggests that people who have received a prescription for proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are twice as likely to be prescribed anti-allergic medications in the years to come.
Scientists have examined data from health records of more than 8 million people in Austria – 97% of the population – over a four-year period.
"Previously, there had been mouse studies, cell studies and clinical observations, but that's the last stone of the situation," said Professor Erika Jensen-Jarolim, director of the study, from the University of Medicine Vienna.
The research, published in Nature Communications, found that the risks were particularly high for women and people over 60 years of age.
Most healthy immune systems can tolerate substances found in food and the environment, but they can sometimes become hypersensitive, causing allergies. Part of the initial digestion process involves gastric acid breaking down protein molecules in food into smaller pieces.
Patients with conditions such as gastric ulcers may be prescribed a drug to reduce the acidity of the stomach and relieve unpleasant symptoms. In this case, the normal chemical reactions involved in digestion do not work as well, which means that larger protein molecules and other potentially harmful substances are able to pbad into the intestine. This can trigger an allergic reaction of the immune system.
The use of acid-reducing drugs is widespread. In some cases, patients are prescribed treatment extending over months or even years, although the Jensen-Jarolim study shows that a potential allergic reaction could be caused in patients with who prescribe drugs reducing acid in less than six days a year. .
Sir Munir Pirmohamed, professor of molecular and clinical pharmacology at the University of Liverpool, said the study had limitations.
"The authors did not have any information on other diseases and conditions of patients, or other drugs administered to patients," he said. "Therefore, the conclusion of this study shows an badociation but does not prove the causality. Additional work in other databases containing data on other conditions of the patient is needed to validate this result. "
He added, "Despite the limitations, there is an important message here: commonly used drugs, such as anti-ulcer drugs, can have unexpected side effects, and these drugs should only be used in cases where needs are clinical and for the shortest possible time. and at the lowest dose needed to control symptoms. "
Stephen Evans, professor of pharmacoepidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, agreed that other drugs could also be a factor. "PPIs are very often co-prescribed with aspirin or similar drugs known as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Aspirin and NSAIDs are some of the drugs known to increase the risk of an allergic reaction, "he said.
Jensen-Jarolim hopes that his study will lead to greater awareness. "The doctors are not aware of this effect, mainly because of the recommendations for anti-inflammatory treatments," she said. "For example, this type of medication is prescribed to most patients who enter Vienna hospitals. We must withdraw from this prophylactic approach. "
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