Pantoprazole After Preventive Treatment of Swollen Veins in the Esophagus in Cirrhosis
Tests pantoprazole after vein treatment in adults with cirrhosis and esophageal varices.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Pantoprazole After Prophylactic Endoscopic Variceal Treatment
Key facts
- Where
- Shenyang, ChinaSee the site
AI summary: who the study is looking for
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults with liver cirrhosis and varices in the food pipe or stomach who are having a procedure to treat the varices to prevent bleeding. It tests pantoprazole after that procedure.
- Age
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- Men and women can join.
- Disease stage
- Liver cirrhosis with varices in the esophagus or at the top of the stomach (EV or GOV1), seen on endoscopy. The varices are treated by endoscopy to prevent a first or repeat bleed.
Main reasons for not taking part
- Acute variceal bleeding before joining
- A clear need for a PPI drug, such as reflux esophagitis or a peptic ulcer
- Allergy to PPI drugs or bad reactions to them before
- Severe heart, brain blood vessel or kidney disease, or severe blood disorders
- Pregnant, breastfeeding or planning pregnancy; already in another clinical trial
Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
Where in China
- Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command (formerly called General Hospital of Shenyang Military Area)Shenyang, ChinaNo longer taking part
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorTrial details
- Who runs it
- General Hospital of Shenyang Military Region
- Trial code
- NCT07248722
- Record updated
- 1 April 2026
- Original description
Traditionally, it is considered that gastric acid delays ulcer healing, and acid suppression can reduce the risk of post-banding ulcer bleeding and promote mucosal healing at the ulcer site. A systematic review and meta-analysis performed by our team demonstrated that acid suppression significantly reduced the incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) following prophylactic endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL), but had no significant effect on the incidence of mortality, adverse events, or length of stay. Similarly, another systematic review and meta-analysis performed by Lin et al. indicated that proton pump inhibitor (PPI) significantly reduced the incidence of GIB after therapeutic or prophylactic endoscopic variceal treatment (EVT), and the efficacy of PPI in reducing post-EVT GIB is related to the duration of PPI. However, previous studies have indicated that long-term use of PPI may increase the risk of bacterial infections and hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis. Therefore, current guidelines suggest that PPI should be discontinued after EVT, unless the patient has a clear indication for PPI. However, the quality of evidence is poor due to the small sample sizes, predominantly retrospective designs, and inconsistencies in follow-up duration of previous studies. In current clinical practice, most physicians still prefer to use PPI routinely after EVT to prevent post-EVT GIB. Given the ongoing controversy regarding the routine use of PPI after EVT, we plan to conduct a multicenter randomized controlled trial to to explore the effect of PPI after prophylactic EVT on the incidence of short-term GIB, adverse events, and mortality in patients with cirrhosis and esophagogastric varices (EGV).Read full original descriptionShow less
Pantoprazole After Prophylactic Endoscopic Variceal Treatment in Cirrhosis (PPEC): Protocol of a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial
Traditionally, it is considered that gastric acid delays ulcer healing, and acid suppression can reduce the risk of post-banding ulcer bleeding and promote mucosal healing at the ulcer site. A systematic review and meta-analysis performed by our team demonstrated that acid suppression significantly reduced the incidence of gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) following prophylactic endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL), but had no significant effect on the incidence of mortality, adverse events, or length of stay. Similarly, another systematic review and meta-analysis performed by Lin et al. indicated that proton pump inhibitor (PPI) significantly reduced the incidence of GIB after therapeutic or prophylactic endoscopic variceal treatment (EVT), and the efficacy of PPI in reducing post-EVT GIB is related to the duration of PPI. However, previous studies have indicated that long-term use of PPI may increase the risk of bacterial infections and hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis. Therefore, current guidelines suggest that PPI should be discontinued after EVT, unless the patient has a clear indication for PPI. However, the quality of evidence is poor due to the small sample sizes, predominantly retrospective designs, and inconsistencies in follow-up duration of previous studies. In current clinical practice, most physicians still prefer to use PPI routinely after EVT to prevent post-EVT GIB. Given the ongoing controversy regarding the routine use of PPI after EVT, we plan to conduct a multicenter randomized controlled trial to to explore the effect of PPI after prophylactic EVT on the incidence of short-term GIB, adverse events, and mortality in patients with cirrhosis and esophagogastric varices (EGV).
Inclusion: patients who are diagnosed with liver cirrhosis by liver biopsy and/or a combination of clinical manifestation, laboratory tests, and imaging examinations; patients who are diagnosed with esophageal varix (EV) or gastroesophageal varix 1 (GOV1) by endoscopy; patients who undergo EVT for EV and/or gastric varices; patients who undergo EVT for either primary or secondary prophylaxis of EVB; patients aged ≥18 years, regardless of gender; patients who sign their informed consent forms.
Exclusion: patients who are allergic to PPI or had intolerable adverse reactions to PPI previously; patients with a diagnosis of acute variceal bleeding before enrollment; patients with definite indications for PPI (reflux esophagitis, peptic ulcer, Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, etc.) at admission; patients with definite indications for PPI (reflux esophagitis, peptic ulcer, etc.) discovered during EVT; patients with severe cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, or renal impairment; patients with severe hematological disorders; patients who were pregnant, lactating, or preparing for pregnancy; patients who have already participated in other clinical trials.