[Clinical practice guideline for irritable bowel syndrome]

Review article: Linaclotide for the management of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation

BACKGROUND

Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C) represents a significant burden to patients and healthcare systems due to its prevalence and lack of successful symptomatic resolution with established treatment options. Linaclotide 290 μg has recently been approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) for moderate-to-severe IBS-C and by the US Food and Drug Administration for IBS-C (290 μg dose) and for chronic constipation (145 μg dose).

AIM

To summarise data leading to the approval of linaclotide for IBS-C, with focus on EMA-pre-specified outcome measures.

METHODS

Literature search of a peer-review database (PubMed) and review of congress abstracts on linaclotide preclinical and clinical trial data in IBS-C.

RESULTS

Preclinical studies suggest that the guanylate cyclase C agonist (GCCA) linaclotide acts through elevation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels, leading to accelerated gastrointestinal (GI) transit through increased fluid secretion and reduced visceral hypersensitivity. Clinical trial data demonstrate that linaclotide improves abdominal symptoms (pain, bloating) and bowel symptoms (constipation) compared with placebo in patients with IBS-C. The most frequent side effect, diarrhoea, results from the therapeutic action of linaclotide. Linaclotide acts locally in the GI tract with minimal systemic exposure, resulting in low oral bioavailability and thus a low risk of relevant systemic adverse effects.

CONCLUSION

Linaclotide, a first-in-class GCCA, is a promising new drug with a novel, dual mechanism of action that, unlike more well-established agents, can relieve the abdominal pain, bloating and constipation associated with IBS-C and has a low propensity for systemic side effects.

Management of irritable bowel syndrome with constipation: a flexible approach to treating a complex condition with multiple symptoms

Irritable bowel syndrome is a heterogeneous disease with a complex underlying pathophysiology and multiple symptoms - that is, clinical manifestation patterns. As such, management of irritable bowel syndrome requires a flexible approach tailored to the individual patient. This article reviews rational, evidence-based management strategy and treatment options for this variable condition.

Irritable bowel syndrome with constipation: a European-focused systematic literature review of disease burden

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a systematic literature review to assess burden of disease and unmet medical needs in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with constipation (IBS-C), with a focus on five European countries (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK).

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, and grey literature searches were carried out using terms for IBS and constipation, to identify studies reporting epidemiological, clinical, humanistic, or economic outcomes for IBS-C, published between 2000 and 2010.

RESULTS

Searches identified 885 unique abstracts and 33 supplementary articles, of which 100 publications and six grey literature sources met the inclusion criteria. Among patients with IBS, the prevalence estimates of IBS-C ranged from 1 to 44%. Co-morbid conditions, such as personality traits, psychological distress, and stress, were common. Patients with IBS-C had lower health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) compared with the general population, and clinical trials suggested that effectively treating IBS-C improves HRQoL. The European societal cost of IBS-C is largely unknown, as no IBS-C-specific European cost-of-illness studies were identified. Two cost analyses demonstrated the substantial societal impact of IBS-C, including reduced productivity at work and work absenteeism. Guidelines offered similar recommendations for the diagnosis and management of IBS; however, recommendations specifically for IBS-C varied by country. Current IBS-C treatment options have limited efficacy and the risk:benefit profile of early 5-HT(4) agonists restricts clinical use.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review indicates a clear need for European-focused IBS-C burden-of-disease and cost-of-illness studies to address identified evidence gaps. There is a need for new therapies for IBS-C that are effective, well tolerated, and have a positive impact on HRQoL.