Association between proton pump inhibitor and ischemic stroke risk remains controversial

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely used in gastrointestinal disease, including peptic ulcer disease (PUD), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, and other GI disorders. PPIs are one of the most frequently used drugs in the world. Although PPIs are currently one of the most commonly used class of drugs (1), clinicians have found that PPIs may potentially increase the risk of ischemic stroke, which may be related to the interaction between PPIs and other commonly used cardiovascular drugs. Several studies (2,3) have shown an increased risk of ischemic stroke in association with PPI use, but other studies have obtained different results.