I think that we have all been waiting for a shoe like this to drop since 
so many infants are medicated for reflux. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, February 8, 2006

CONTACT: Robert Bock or Marianne Glass Miller, 301-496-5133, 
[log in to unmask]

COMMON REFLUX TREATMENT LINKED TO LIFE THREATENING BOWEL INFECTION IN 
PREMATURE INFANTS

Researchers in an NIH network have found that premature infants given a 
common class of non-prescription drugs used to treat acid reflux are 
slightly more likely to develop a potentially fatal bowel disorder than 
are infants who are not treated with the drugs.

The drugs, known as H2 blockers, inhibit the production of stomach acid 
and may put premature infants at risk of necrotizing enterocolitis, a 
serious inflammation of the intestines. The study appears in the February 
2006 "Pediatrics" and was conducted by researchers in the NIH's National 
Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network.

The researchers pointed out that it is not possible to tell from the study 
whether or not the drugs caused the condition, but nonetheless advised 
caution with their use for premature infants.

"This study strongly suggests that the common practice of prescribing H2 
blockers to prevent or treat acid reflux in premature infants be 
discontinued, until more evidence on the safety of this practice becomes 
available," said Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., Director of the National 
Institutes of Health.



This NIH News Release is available online at:
http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/feb2006/nichd-08.htm.


Ellen Penchuk, IBCLC, RLC

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