Muscle cramps are the commonest side effect of home parenteral nutrition

Enterohormone therapy for short bowel syndrome

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) patients are at risk to develop intestinal failure when the decreased absorption of macronutrients, water, and electrolytes necessitates parenteral support for survival. The adverse effects of SBS and parenteral support negatively affect the quality of life (QoL) of SBS-intestinal failure patients. However, spontaneous intestinal adaptation along with disease-modifying therapies allow reducing parenteral support, thereby improving QoL.

RECENT FINDINGS

During the first years following extensive surgery, spontaneous structural and functional intestinal changes take place which stimulate a more efficient nutrient and fluid absorption in the remaining bowel. Given their potential role in the ileal braking mechanism, enterohormones, such as glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-2, GLP-1, and peptide YY (PYY), promote an accelerated adaptation or hyperadaptation. While the exact role of GLP-1 and PYY in SBS is still being explored, GLP-2 analogs have clearly shown to be effective in improving outcome in SBS.

SUMMARY

Whereas spontaneous intestinal adaptation improves the nutritional status of SBS patients to a certain extent, GLP-2 analogs can further decrease parenteral support needs through hyperadaptation. There are, however, other promising candidates on the horizon that - alone or in combination - could possibly establish additional disease-modifying effects.

Gut hormones in the treatment of short-bowel syndrome and intestinal failure

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The approval of teduglutide, a recombinant analog of human glucagon-like peptide (GLP) 2, by the US Food and Drug Administration (Gattex) and the European Medicines Agency (Revestive) has illustrated the potential of selected gut hormones as treatments in patients with short-bowel syndrome and intestinal failure. Gut hormones may improve the structural and functional intestinal adaptation following intestinal resection by decreasing a rapid gastric emptying and hypersecretion, by increasing the intestinal blood flow, and by promoting intestinal growth. This review summarizes the findings from phase 2 and 3 teduglutide studies, and pilot studies employing GLP-1 and agonists for this orphan condition.

RECENT FINDINGS

In a 3-week, phase 2, metabolic balance study, teduglutide increased the intestinal wet weight absorption by approximately 700 g/day and reduced fecal energy losses by approximately 0.8 MJ/day (∼200 Kcal/day). In two subsequent 24-week, phase 3 studies, teduglutide reduced the need for parenteral support in the same magnitude. Adverse events were mainly of gastrointestinal origin and consistent with the known mechanism of action of teduglutide. Pilot studies suggest that GLP-1 may be less potent. Synergistic effects may be seen by co-treatment with GLP-2.

SUMMARY

Gut hormones promote intestinal adaptation and absorption, decreasing fecal losses, thereby decreasing or even eliminating the need for parenteral support. This will aid the intestinal rehabilitation in these severely disabled short-bowel syndrome patients.