Proton pump inhibitors increase the risk of cholecystitis: a population-based case–control study

We read with great interest the article by Cheung et al 1 reporting long-term exposure to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) following Helicobacter pylori (HP) eradication associated with increased risk of gastric cancer. PPIs are widely used worldwide to treat gastro-oesophageal reflux disorder, peptic ulcer and HP, but multiple reports have found they got some negative effects, such as increasing risk of the intra-abdominal infection, like spontaneous bacterial peritonitis,2 pseudomembranous colitis,3 liver abscess4 and affecting the gut microbiome.5 6 PPIs may theoretically increase risk of gaining acute cholecystitis due to the increasing the number of enteric organisms and risk of secondary infection; however, few reports have supported this hypothesis. Thus, we conducted a nationwide population-based case–control study to analyse the relationship between PPI exposure and …