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A critical appraisal of lubiprostone in the treatment of chronic constipation in the elderly
Authors Gras-Miralles B, Cremonini F
Received 24 October 2012
Accepted for publication 17 December 2012
Published 15 February 2013 Volume 2013:8 Pages 191—200
DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/CIA.S30729
Checked for plagiarism Yes
Review by Single anonymous peer review
Peer reviewer comments 3
Beatriz Gras-Miralles,1 Filippo Cremonini1,2
1Gastroenterology Department, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; 2Southern Nevada VA Healthcare System, Las Vegas, NV, USA
Abstract: Chronic constipation is a common disorder in the general population, with higher prevalence in the elderly, and is associated with worse quality of life and with greater health care utilization. Lubiprostone is an intestinal type-2 chloride channel activator that increases intestinal fluid secretion, small intestinal transit, and stool passage. Lubiprostone is currently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation and of irritable bowel syndrome with predominant constipation. This review outlines current approaches and limitations in the treatment of chronic constipation in the elderly and discusses the results, limitations, and applicability of randomized, controlled trials of lubiprostone that have been conducted in the general and elderly population, with additional focus on the use of lubiprostone in constipation in Parkinson's disease and in opioid-induced constipation, two clinical entities that can be comorbid in elderly patients.
Keywords: irritable bowel syndrome, Parkinson's disease, opioid-induced constipation, chronic constipation
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