BACKGROUND & AIMS: The efficacy of glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) analogues in patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS) with intestinal failure (IF) is not well established. We aimed to compare the efficacy of GLP-2 analogues relative to placebo in patients with SBS dependent on parenteral support (PS).
METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central were searched from inception to April 15, 2025 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing GLP-2 analogues with placebo in patients with SBS. Endpoints included change in weekly PS volume, clinical response, enteral autonomy, and ≥1-day/week PS reduction. Pooled risk ratios (RRs) and standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using random-effects models. SMD was used due to differences in reporting units (mL/day vs. L/week).
RESULTS: We included 283 patients from 4 RCTs, including one crossover trial; 188 (66.4%) received GLP-2 analogues. Weekly absolute PS volume reduction was significantly greater with GLP-2 analogues than with placebo (SMD -0.54; 95% CI -0.71 to -0.36; p = 0.0022; I= 0%), with consistent results in a sensitivity analysis restricted to week 24. There were no significant differences in clinical response (RR 1.94; 95% CI 0.57 to 6.56; p = 0.1453; I= 23.7%) and enteral autonomy (RR 4.21; 95% CI 0.00 to 280351.17; p = 0.3479; I= 0%) between groups. Clinical response was defined as achieving a ≥20% reduction in weekly PS volume from baseline sustained through weeks 20 and 24. Reduction in PS by ≥ 1 day/week was more frequent with GLP-2 analogues (RR 2.27; 95% CI 1.59 to 3.26; p = 0.0219; I= 0%). 2 2 2 2
CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis of 4 RCTs including 283 patients showed that GLP-2 analogues significantly reduced weekly PS volume and more often achieved ≥1-day/week reductions in PS compared with placebo, with no significant differences in enteral autonomy or clinical response.
