The Use of Growth Factors in Short Bowel Syndrome

Malabsorption of nonessential and essential nutrients, fluids, and electrolytes, if not compensated for by increased intake, will lead to diminished body stores and subclinical and (eventually) clinical deficiencies. By definition, intestinal failure prevails when parenteral support is necessary to maintain nutritional equilibrium. After intestinal resection, adaptation—a progressive recovery from the malabsorptive disorder—may be evident. Research has focused on optimizing remnant intestinal function through dietary or pharmacological interventions. This chapter describes factors responsible for the morphological and functional changes in the adaptive processes and presents results of clinical trials that use either growth hormones or glutamine and glucagon-like peptide (GLP)–2 in short bowel patients.