Teduglutide reduces need for parenteral support among patients with short bowel syndrome with intestinal failure

Abstract

Background & Aims: Teduglutide, a glucagon-like peptide 2 analogue, might restore intestinal structural and functional integrity by promoting growth of the mucosa and reducing gastric emptying and secretion. These factors could increase fluid and nutrient absorption in patients with short bowel syndrome with intestinal failure (SBS-IF). We performed a prospective study to determine whether teduglutide reduces parenteral support in patients with SBS-IF. Methods: We performed a 24-week study of patients with SBS-IF who were given subcutaneous teduglutide (0.05 mg/kg/d; n = 43) or placebo (n = 43) once daily. Parenteral support was reduced if 48-hour urine volumes exceeded baseline values by <10%. The primary efficacy end point was number of responders (patients with >20% reduction in parenteral support volume from baseline at weeks 20 and 24). Results: There were significantly more responders in the teduglutide group (27/43 [63%]) than the placebo group (13/43 [30%]; P =.002). At week 24, the mean reduction in parenteral support volume in the teduglutide group was 4.4 ± 3.8 L/wk (baseline 12.9 ± 7.8 L/wk) compared with 2.3 ± 2.7 L/wk (baseline 13.2 ± 7.4 L/wk) in the placebo group (P