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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. Dr Palle Jeppesen and colleagues performed a prospective study to determine whether teduglutide reduces parenteral support in patients with short bowel syndrome with intestinal failure. The researchers performed a 24-week study of patients with short bowel syndrome with intestinal failure who were given subcutaneous teduglutide or placebo once daily. Parenteral support was reduced if 48-hour urine volumes exceeded baseline values by 10% or more.  | | The mean reduction in parenteral support volume in the teduglutide group was 4 L per week | | Gastroenterology |
The primary efficacy end point was number of responders. The team found significantly more responders in the teduglutide group than the placebo group. At week 24, the mean reduction in parenteral support volume in the teduglutide group was 4 L per week compared with 2 L per week in the placebo group. The percentage of patients with a 1-day or more reduction in the weekly need for parenteral support was greater in the teduglutide group than in the placebo group. The research team observed that teduglutide increased plasma concentrations of citrulline, a biomarker of mucosal mass. The team noted that the distribution of treatment-emergent adverse events that led to study discontinuation was similar between patients given teduglutide, and placebo. Dr Jeppesen's team commented, "The 24-weeks of teduglutide treatment was generally well tolerated in patients with short bowel syndrome with intestinal failure." "Treatment with teduglutide reduced volumes and numbers of days of parenteral support for patients with short bowel syndrome with intestinal failure."
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