Effectiveness and Safety of Teduglutide Treatment in Adult Patients with Short Bowel Syndrome: A Case Series and Review of Current Evidence

TL;DR

Teduglutide helps reduce the need for parenteral nutrition in Greek adults with short bowel syndrome, with few side effects.

Contribution

Provides real-world evidence on teduglutide effectiveness and safety in the Greek population with short bowel syndrome.

Findings

Teduglutide reduced parenteral nutrition by 45% and intravenous hydration by 80% over 52 weeks.

Two out of eight patients achieved complete independence from parenteral nutrition.

BMI increased by 10.6% and the drug was well tolerated with mild gastrointestinal adverse events.

Abstract

Background: Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is the leading cause of chronic intestinal failure and is frequently associated with long-term dependence on parenteral nutrition (PN) and intravenous fluids. Teduglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) analogue, promotes intestinal adaptation and has been demonstrated to reduce parenteral support requirements. However, real-world data from the Greek population are scarce. Methods: We conducted a non-interventional, multicenter, retrospective cohort study across 5 centers in Greece, including adult patients with SBS receiving teduglutide therapy. Demographic and clinical characteristics, parenteral nutrition and intravenous fluid requirements, body mass index (BMI), laboratory parameters, and adverse events were recorded at baseline and during follow-up at weeks 4, 12, 26, and 52. Results: Eight adult patients with SBS were included (75% female), with a median age of 53 years (range 19–71). Over 52 weeks of treatment, mean parenteral nutrition requirements decreased by approximately 45% compared with baseline (from 1430 to 788 kcal/day), while mean intravenous hydration requirements decreased by approximately 80% (from 5170 to 1000 mL/week). Complete independence from parenteral nutrition was achieved in 2 of 8 patients (25%). Nutritional status improved, with a 10.6% increase in mean BMI at Week 52. Teduglutide was generally well tolerated; mild adverse events occurred in 3 of 8 patients, were predominantly gastrointestinal, and did not lead to treatment discontinuation. Conclusions: This study provides data from the Greek population and supports the effectiveness and favorable safety profile of teduglutide in adult patients with SBS and chronic intestinal failure. Further prospective studies are warranted to better define predictors of response and optimize long-term management strategies.

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