Unexpected upper gastrointestinal polyps in patients with short bowel syndrome treated with teduglutide: need for close monitoring

Teduglutide is a GLP-2 analog indicated for the treatment of short bowel syndrome (SBS) since 2015. Its efficacy in reducing parenteral nutrition (PN) has been shown in patients with SBS. Because teduglutide is a trophic factor, the aim of this study was to assess risk of developing polypoid intestinal lesions during treatment. A retrospective study was conducted in 35 patients with SBS treated with teduglutide for ≥1 y in a home PN expert center. All patients underwent ≥1 follow-up intestinal endoscopy during treatment. In the 35 patients, the small bowel length was 74 cm (IQR: 25–100), and 23 patients (66%) had a colon in continuity. Upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed after a mean treatment duration of 23 mo (IQR: 13–27), and polypoid lesions were found in 10 patients (6 with a colon in continuity, 4 with an end jejunostomy) and no lesion in 25 patients. In 8 out of the 10 patients, the lesion was found in the small bowel. Five of these lesions presented an aspect of hyperplastic polyp without dysplasia, and 3 of a traditional adenoma with low-grade dysplasia. Our study highlights the importance of performing follow-up upper and lower gastrointestinal endoscopy in SBS patients treated with teduglutide and the potential need to make changes to the recommendations with respect to treatment initiation and follow-up.