A 71-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with nausea and vomiting. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed hiatus hernia, Barrett’s esophagus and multiple esophageal ulcers. She was treated with a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) . The Barrett’s ulcer improved and the patient was discharged from the hospital. After three days, she was admitted to our hospital with hematemesis. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed recurrence of the Barrett’s ulcer.
To our question about her compliance with her medication, she and her brother said that she was certainly compliant with the prescribed PPI. The Barrett’s ulcer improved again and the patient was discharged from the hospital. However, after eight days again, the Barrett’s ulcer recurred and the patient was again admitted to our hospital. Again, both the patient and her brother confirmed her compliance with the prescribed medication.
However, when the brother was asked to bring all her medicines, we found that she had not taken the proton pump inhibitor at all. Thereafter, after we ensured that she remained compliant with the prescribed PPI, the Barrett’s ulcer improved and did not recur. Thus, adherence to treatment is important.