Current update of short-bowel syndrome.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this article is to review the current data on trophic factors in adult patients with short-bowel syndrome. The present article reviews the clinical role of glutamine, growth hormone, and GLP-2 in the treatment of short-bowel syndrome. RECENT
FINDINGS: This review is clinically relevant, given the recent publications in this area. The summary of the current literature does not support that the currently available trophic factors are clinically beneficial for patients with short-bowel syndrome.
SUMMARY: Systemic side effects from growth hormone factors have been reported. Current trophic should be considered investigational and not standard of practice in the author's opinion.