RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The effects of three alternative treatment strategies after 8 weeks of proton pump inhibitor therapy for GERD in children JF Archives of Disease in Childhood JO Arch Dis Child FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health SP 9 OP 13 DO 10.1136/adc.2010.188565 VO 96 IS 1 A1 Lee, Ji Hyuk A1 Kim, Mi Jin A1 Lee, Jong Seung A1 Choe, Yon Ho YR 2011 UL http://adc.bmj.com/content/96/1/9.abstract AB Objectives The purpose of this 24-week treatment study was to evaluate the effects of three treatment strategies after 8 weeks of lansoprazole therapy for gastroesophageal reflux disease in children. Design Open-labelled, uncontrolled, prospective study. Setting Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. Methods 37 erosive reflux disease (ERD) and 20 non-erosive reflux disease (NERD) patients were divided into three groups by symptom assessment at 8 weeks: (1) observation without treatment in the ‘symptoms-resolved’ group, (2) ‘on-demand’ treatment for an additional 16 weeks in the ‘symptoms-attenuated’ group and (3) continuous treatment in the ‘symptoms-persistent’ group. Results For ERD, six (100%) out of six patients in the ‘symptoms-resolved’ group remained improved at weeks 16 and 24. Sixteen (72.7%) out of 22 patients in the ‘symptoms-attenuated’ group had improvement of symptoms at 16 weeks, and 18 (81.8%) patients at 24 weeks. Six (66.7%) out of nine patients in the ‘symptoms-persistent’ group remained improved at weeks 16 and 24. For NERD, seven (100%) out of seven patients in the ‘symptoms-resolved’ group remained improved at weeks 16 and 24. Eight (80.0%) out of 10 patients in the ‘symptoms-attenuated’ group remained improved at week 16, and 10 (100.0%) patients at week 24. None out of three patients in the ‘symptoms-persistent’ group remained improved at weeks 16 and 24. Conclusions The selection of each alternative for long-term management according to the results of the assessment of symptoms at week 8 was useful and well tolerated. ‘On-demand’ therapy was equally effective. The 16-week therapy had the same efficacy as the 24-week therapy with regard to long-term lansoprazole treatment.