Comparative Efficacy of Dexlansoprazole, Pantoprazole, Esomeprazole, and Rabeprazole in Achieving Optimal 24-Hour Intragastric pH Control: A Randomized Crossover Study Using Ambulatory pH Monitoring

Introduction: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) regulate gastric acid reflux. Dexlansoprazole's efficacy in prolonging acid suppression compared to conventional PPIs and placebo requires evaluation.

Methods: A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, five-way crossover pilot study was conducted on healthy volunteers comparing the potency of dexlansoprazole to conventional PPIs in which five patients were randomized into five treatment cohorts, including dexlansoprazole 60 mg, pantoprazole 40 mg, esomeprazole 40 mg, rabeprazole 20 mg, and placebo, assessing 24-hour intragastric pH using Z/pH Recorder (ZepHr®, Diversatek, Inc., Milwaukee, WI) and analyzing statistical differences via paired t-test.

Results: Dexlansoprazole showed significantly longer durations with pH > 4.0 compared to placebo (P < 0.001) and all other PPIs (P < 0.05) over 24 hours. Although not significant in the first 0-12-hour period, dexlansoprazole maintained significantly higher pH levels in the last 12-24-hour period compared to pantoprazole (P = 0.001) and esomeprazole (P = 0.044) but not with rabeprazole (P = 0.075). Additionally, during the 24-hour pH monitoring measured at 30-minute intervals, dexlansoprazole (mean pH = 3.98 ± 0.11) consistently showed higher values than pantoprazole (mean pH = 3.48 ± 0.12), rabeprazole (mean pH = 3.66 ± 0.05), esomeprazole (mean pH = 3.66 ± 0.05), and placebo (mean pH = 2.52 ± 0.12), indicating its superior potency.

Conclusion: Dexlansoprazole's dual-delayed release mechanism demonstrates superior acid suppression compared to traditional PPIs and placebo in this pilot study. Larger studies are needed to further evaluate its long-term efficacy and safety.