ZES is a rare, difficult to manage disorder that causes increased levels of the hormone gastrin, which produces excess hydrochloric acid in the stomach. It is often caused by a tumor (gastrinoma) in the pancreas. ZES affects roughly 3 of every 1 million Americans. Symptoms of ZES include duodenal ulcers, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and fatty stools.

Nexium is a proton pump inhibitor, a medication that reduces the production of stomach acid by stopping the mechanism inside cells that pumps acid to the stomach. Nexium had previously been approved only to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in adults and children ages 12 to 17, and to lessen the chance of developing gastric ulcers in patients taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Proton pump inhibitors are available by prescription and are used to treat various digestive conditions. First introduced in the 1980s, they now are considered superior to H2 blockers in terms of reducing acid production.

The decision to approve Nexium for treatment of ZES was based on recent clinical trials in which participants received varying amounts of Nexium according to their respective degree of acid output over the course of 12 months. Results from the trials showed that Nexium was effective in suppressing acid production and, in each case, was well tolerated by the stomach.

Copyright 2000-2006 HealthCentersOnline, Inc.