A dose-equivalent comparison of the effects of continuous subcutaneous glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) infusions versus meal related GLP-2 injections in the treatment of short bowel syndrome (SBS) patients

Glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2), secreted endogenously from L-cells in the distal bowel in relation to meals, modulates intestinal absorption by adjusting gastric emptying and secretion and intestinal growth. Short bowel syndrome (SBS) patients with distal intestinal resections have attenuated endogenous GLP-2 secretion, which may contribute to their rapid gastric emptying, gastric hypersecretion and poor intestinal adaptation, whereas SBS patients with preserved terminal ileum and colon, who have a constantly elevated GLP-2 secretion, seem to do better in these respects. This study compared effects of continuous, subcutaneous (s.c.), exogenous GLP-2 infusion (CONT-GLP-2) versus three daily s.c. GLP-2 injections (TID-GLP-2) on intestinal absorption in SBS patients.