Experience with Teduglutide in Pediatric Short Bowel Syndrome: First Real-Life Data.

OBJECTIVES To describe the experience with teduglutide of several Spanish hospitals in pediatric patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS). METHODS Seventeen pediatric patients with intestinal failure associated with short bowel syndrome were treated with teduglutide. Patients received 0.05 mg/kg/d of subcutaneous teduglutide. Patients' demographics and changes in parenteral nutrition (PN) needs, fecal losses and citrulline level initially and at 3, 6 and 12 months were collected, as well as any adverse events. RESULTS Patients were receiving 55 ml/kg/d and 33 Kcal/kg/d of parenteral supplementation on average at baseline (2 patients received only hydroelectrolytic solution). A total of 12/17 patients achieved parenteral independence: 3 patients after 3 months of treatment, 4 patients at 6 months, and 5 after 12 months. One patient discontinued treatment one year after the beginning because no changes in parenteral support or fecal losses were obtained. All others decreased their intravenous requirements by 50%. One patient suffered an episode of cholecystitis, and another one with a pre-existing cardiac disease, developed a cardiac decompensation. CONCLUSIONS Teduglutide seems to be a safe and effective treatment in the pediatric SBS population with better results than in the pivotal study as well as in the adult population.