Paper II — 2025 March (Supplementary (SAY)) (2019 Scheme) — Qxi
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Paper II
2025 March (Supplementary (SAY)) (2019 Scheme) · 100 marks · 180 min
Question
Patient: Mr. John Taylor, a 45-year-old man presents with the chief complaint: Severe heartburn and regurgitation of food after meals, especially at night. Medical History: Overweight (BMI: 29), Occasional alcohol use. No known drug allergies. Presenting Symptoms: Heartburn and acid regurgitation after meals for the past 3 months. Symptoms are worse when lying down, particularly at night. Difficulty swallowing at times. Has been self-medicating with over-the-counter antacids but reports no significant relief. Physical Examination: Normal vital signs, No signs of systemic illness, abdominal tenderness or masses and not anaemic. Diagnosis: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Which of the following classes of drugs is most commonly used as the first-line pharmacologic treatment
for GERD
a) Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
c) Antacids
b) H2-receptor antagonists
d) Prokinetic agents
(PTO)
Qxi1 marksMCQs (Case)
Answer
Correct answer: a) Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)
Proton pump inhibitors are the most effective and most commonly used first-line pharmacologic treatment for GERD, given their potent, durable suppression of gastric acid secretion (irreversible H⁺/K⁺-ATPase inhibition) — superior symptom control and mucosal healing compared to antacids (which only neutralize existing acid transiently) or H2-receptor antagonists (a less complete block of acid secretion).
