title: Lubiprostone Is Effective in the Treatment of Chronic Idiopathic Constipation and Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of lubiprostone in the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation (CIC) and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation (IBS-C).
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a literature search of the MEDLINE, Cochrane, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases (from January 1, 2005, through January 31, 2015). Relevant studies meeting the inclusion criteria were manually searched by 2 independent reviewers. Efficacy outcomes evaluated at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months of intervention were weekly frequency of spontaneous bowel movements, severity of constipation, consistency of stools, degree of abdominal pain/discomfort, degree of straining, and abdominal bloating.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 246 studies identified, data from 9 trials comprising 1468 patients (63.6%) in the lubiprostone group and 841 (36.4%) in the placebo group were analyzed. We found that lubiprostone treatment significantly improved the severity of constipation, stool consistency, abdominal pain, degree of straining, and abdominal bloating at 1 week (P≤.03) and 1 month (P≤.004), except for abdominal pain at 1 month, which was similar to that when treated with placebo (P=.21). At 3 months, except for abdominal bloating (P=.03), there was no difference between lubiprostone and placebo groups in all other outcomes (P≥.05). Adverse effects such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea were common (incidence rate, 2.4%-75%); however, the incidence of serious adverse effects was low (<5%) and was mostly unrelated to lubiprostone treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lubiprostone is a safe and efficacious drug for the treatment of chronic idiopathic constipation and irritable bowel syndrome with constipation, with limited adverse effects in 3 months of follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Institute of Surgery Research, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Institute of Surgery Research, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Institute of Surgery Research, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Dong
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Institute of Surgery Research, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Bao-Hua
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Institute of Surgery Research, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Chun-Xue
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Institute of Surgery Research, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Institute of Surgery Research, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Song
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Institute of Surgery Research, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Xiang-Feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Institute of Surgery Research, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China. Electronic address: anping_zhang@163.com.
authors.forename: An-Ping
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003248:Constipation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D054368:Laxatives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068238:Lubiprostone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D054368:Laxatives; D000068238:Lubiprostone