Placing a band of magnetic beads around the oesophagus just above the stomach is more effective than medication at controlling regurgitation – a symptom of reflux disease – a large study has found.
According to data presented at Digestive Disease Week in Chicago in May, the LINX Reflux Management System is more effective than Omeprazole at controlling regurgitation and improving quality of life in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD/GORD).
The investigation, known as the CALIBER Study, has compared mechanical sphincter augmentation (LINX) to double-dose proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for the management of reflux symptoms with 150 patients at 22 centres.
Initial data after six months has shown significant improvement in quality of life was achieved in 88.9 per cent of patients treated with LINX versus 6.8 per cent of patients treated with twice a day omeprazole.
At six months, 92.6 per cent of patients with LINX had relief of regurgitation, compared with 8.6 per cent of those taking Omeprazole.
Reginald Bell MD, one of the study’s lead investigators, commented on the initial findings: “Current practice for GERD patients with troublesome regurgitation is to increase the dose of acid suppression therapy.”
“The preliminary results of this study demonstrate a 10-fold better resolution of regurgitation with LINX compared to increases in acid-suppression therapy. If the significant disparity in outcomes observed in this preliminary analysis continues to favour LINX, the medical community will need to recognise that increasing PPI dosing for these patients is largely ineffective.”
If you are taking a PPI properly and not getting relief or your symptoms persist, it is important to speak to your doctor.
It would be beneficial to confirm the presence of reflux using Peptest, the rapid non-invasive reflux diagnostic test, prior to LINX surgery and to repeat the test at two months, six months and 12 months post-surgery.
Treating reflux without confirmation can mean months on medication that isn't the right fit. Peptest is a simple saliva test that detects pepsin — objective evidence of reflux — so you can act on what's actually happening.
- Results in 48 hours
- Saliva test, no invasive probe
- UK laboratory
Hi Jane,
Thank you for your questions.
Peptest will detect the presence of Pepsin (a major enzyme from your stomach contents) in your samples. Pepsin may be present in both acidic and non-acidic reflux. Please see our website for further information.
Also Peptest is available in Canada. You can order Peptest via our website: http://www.peptest.co.uk by clicking on the order now icon.
The cost of Peptest includes all courier delivery costs.
Many thanks.
Hi
Is there evidence of how effective is linx device is for reflux ?
Thanks
Constantinos
Hi Constantinos,
Thank you for your Peptest question.
Please see the attached link from our website for further information on LINX:
https://www.peptest.co.uk/what-is-linx-reflux-surgery/
Many thanks.