Treatment of Bowel Syndrome with Constipation: An Experience with The Agonist of Guanylate Cyclase Receptor in Advanced Age Patients

Abstract

Background Irritable bowel syndrome is a very common condition in the elderly, and it can also be extremely disabling being able to go to undermine the patient's independence. We wanted to conduct a study on the Territory to test a recently approved molecule for treating a variant with constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome, testing the treatment in a cohort of elderly subjects and comparing the results with those of other existing therapies. Here we exposed the results of our experience.
 Material and Methods We conducted an open-label study in the general medicine setting, enrolling patients who appeared eligible for drug treatment with the study drug during the medical examination. So we examined 20 elderly patients. Half of the patients were treated with linaclotide 290 mcg, the other 50% with macrogol 27.6 g (25%) and psyllium 2 sachets/day (25%), continuing the treatment up to 12 weeks.
 Results There was a reduction of bloating in 70% of the Linaclotide group and 80% of the macrogol and psyllium group, an improvement/reduction of tenesmus in 100% of patients in the three groups, with a change in the quality of stool occurring with Bristol Stool Scale assessment. 60% of patients failed to complete therapy in 3 months.
 Conclusions Linaclotide is an innovative drug increasingly gaining space in the pharmacopoeia in the possession of doctors for treating intestinal disorders on a functional basis. The limited experience has shown little tolerance of Linaclotide compared to treatments for longer in force, especially in the elderly.