Elobixibat Effectively Relieves Chronic Constipation in Patients with Cancer Regardless of the Amount of Food Intake

Abstract

Background: Constipation is a common, distressing complication in patients with cancer receiving palliative care. Elobixibat is a novel inhibitor of the ileal bile acid transporter that is used to treat chronic constipation by stimulating bowel function. However, its efficacy in patients with cancer has not been examined. This study investigated the drug's effectiveness in patients with cancer with chronic constipation. Patients and Methods: This prospective-sampling, single-center, observational study included hospitalized patients with cancer diagnosed, using the Rome IV criteria, with chronic constipation. Within 2 weeks of hospitalization, each participant was administered elobixibat (5–15 mg) daily until discharge. Spontaneous bowel movements (SBMs), complete spontaneous bowel movements (CSBMs), Bristol stool form scale (BSFS) scores, and the Patient Assessment of Constipation Quality of Life questionnaire (PAC-QOL) scores were assessed before and after elobixibat administration. We also evaluated the relationship between the amount of food consumed and the SBM frequency. Results: Among the 83 participants, the mean pre- and post-treatment frequencies of daily SBMs were 0.3 and 1.2 (p