Pantoprazole Shows No Increased Kidney Risk in Major Trial
Does Pantoprazole Increase Kidney Disease Risk?
No, according to this large-scale analysis from the COMPASS trial, pantoprazole does not increase the risk of adverse kidney outcomes including chronic kidney disease progression, acute kidney injury, or need for dialysis. This reassuring finding from over 17,000 patients followed for nearly 3 years provides important safety data for one of the most commonly prescribed proton pump inhibitors.
Dr. Kumar’s Take
This is reassuring news from a high-quality, large-scale trial. Previous observational studies had raised concerns about PPI kidney risks, but this randomized controlled trial data suggests pantoprazole doesn’t increase kidney problems. However, we should remember this was a relatively healthy population with cardiovascular disease, not necessarily representative of all PPI users. The findings don’t eliminate all kidney concerns with PPIs, but they do provide more confidence about pantoprazole safety in appropriate patients.