The Florida Times-Union (2/21, Patton, 100K) reports that “a device called the LINX Reflux Management System, a ring of tiny magnetic beads that are surgically placed around the lower esophageal sphincter, preventing stomach acid from leaking back into the esophagus,” may benefit patients with GERD, according to a study published online in the New England Journal of Medicine. The Times-Union points out that “roughly 1 in 3 people in the United States suffers from GERD, the American Gastroenterological Association estimates.”
MedPage Today (2/21, Gever) reports, “With 100 patients having the device implanted via laparoscopic surgery, 64 achieved the primary endpoint for treatment success, defined as either normalized acid exposure in the esophagus or a reduction in acid exposure of at least 50% after 1 year.” Researchers also found that “more than 90 patients met key secondary endpoints, including a reduction of at least 50% in the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), as well as improvement of at least 50% in quality-of-life scores relative to baseline while not taking PPIs.” HealthDay (2/21, Norton) also covers the story.
