[Proton-pump inhibitors and risk of kidney disease]

Regarded as safe and effective for management of upper peptic ulcer disease due to gastric acid secretion, the proton pump inhibitors are among the most commonly prescribed drugs. Their use, however, is not without concerns. Acute kidney injury, mainly due to acute interstitial nephritis, could happen 1.5 to 2 times more frequently when using these drugs. Moreover, a risk for chronic kidney disease has also be noted with proton pump inhibitor use (1.15 to 1.8 increased risk), although biases may exist due to confounding factors related to the observational nature of the studies. So, caution is required before available results from good prospective randomized studies are available. Renal function should be checked when using these medications and timely cessation should be advised when there is no more clear indication for use.