Insights on the sphingolipid profile in patients with short bowel syndrome and consecutive intestinal failure

Abstract Background Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a rare condition, and providing care for these patients can be challenging. Investigating the serologic sphingolipid profile has enhanced the understanding of various pathophysiologic conditions. However, data on the serologic sphingolipid profile in patients with SBS are –to date- not available. Methods Serum probes from patients with SBS treated in the outpatient clinic of the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology of the University Hospital Frankfurt were included and analyzed retrospectively. Serologic sphingolipid (SL) and especially ceramide (Cer) levels were assessed by LC-MS/MS and correlated with clinical and laboratory chemical parameters. Results A total of 37 (16 male) patients with SBS were included, 11 with Crohn’s disease (CD) (29.73%). Patients’ median age was 62 (24–88), with a median weight of 59 kilograms (42–75). Patients with less than 100 centimeters of small intestine had significantly higher creatinine and lower total protein levels, whereas the serologic SL-profile was not significantly affected. Furthermore, Sphingosine-1-Phosphate (S1P) and C18-Cer were increased in patients with SBS with CD as the underlying etiology. No significant differences in the sphingolipidomic profile were observed between patients on total parenteral nutrition than patients with oral and parenteral nutrition and patients with associated elevation of the liver enzymes. Conclusion Conclusion: Our study provides first insights into the serologic SL profile of patients with SBS. We showed that patients with CD present with an altered SL profile compared to other aetiologies, while the occurrence of liver disease in this single-center cohort does not appear to affect the serologic SL profile in respective patients.