Jeppesen PB, Gilroy R, Pertkiewicz M et al.
Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Gut 2011;60:902–14.
Editor’s note: Short bowel syndrome (SBS) related to loss of intestinal function and length is a debilitating condition for which intestinal transplantation provides the only potential cure in patients failing parenteral support due to recurrent life-threatening sepsis, loss of venous access, and end-stage intestinal failure-associated liver disease (Gastroenterology 2003;124:1111–34). Patients with SBS normally require long-term parenteral nutrition with concomitant risks of complications from this, as well as loss of intestinal function. Medical therapy to improve absorptive capacity within the short gut is urgently needed. In recent years, glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) has emerged as a possible medical solution to aid intestinal function through multiple methods including inhibiting gastric acid secretion and gastric emptying (Scand J Gastroenterol 1998;33:828–32), stimulating intestinal blood flow (Scand J Gastroenterol 2009;44:314–19), and increasing intestine barrier function (Gut 2009;58:1091–103).