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Medwave 2015;15(Suppl 3):e6339 doi: 10.5867/medwave.2015.6339

�Es efectivo el racecadotrilo como tratamiento para la diarrea aguda en ni�os?

Is racecadotril effective for acute diarrhea in children?

Josefina S�ez , Lorena Cifuentes

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Abstract

Gastroenteritis or acute watery diarrhea is usually a self-limited disease, but it is still associated to substantial healthcare costs and remains a frequent demand for medical care. Racecadotril, an intestinal enkephalinase inhibitor, has been used as treatment because it would decrease the duration of acute diarrhea and fluid loss. However there is still no evidence supporting its routine use. Searching in Epistemonikos database, which is maintained by screening 30 databases, we identified three systematic reviews including nine randomized trials evaluating the effects of this therapy. We combined the evidence using meta-analysis and generated a summary of findings table following the GRADE approach. We concluded racecadotril probably reduces the duration of acute diarrhea in pediatric patients.

Problem

Gastroenteritis or acute watery diarrhea is usually a self-limited disease, lasting five to seven days. However, it is still associated to substantial healthcare costs and remains a frequent demand for medical care. The main complication in pediatric population is severe dehydration. Therefore, the main aim of treatment is to prevent it; oral rehydration solution is the cornerstone of therapy, but it does not decrease the duration of diarrhea or fluid loss. Racecadotril is an antisecretory drug that prolongs endogenous enkephalin action by inhibiting intestinal enkephalinase, decreasing the secretion of water and electrolytes. Despite understanding physiopathology and its mechanism of action, there is still no evidence to support its routine use for acute diarrhea in children.

Methods

We used Epistemonikos database, which is maintained by screening more than 30 databases, to identify systematic reviews and their included primary studies. With this information we generated a structured summary using a pre-established format, which includes key messages, a summary of the body of evidence (presented as an evidence matrix in Epistemonikos), meta-analysis of the total of studies, a summary of findings table following the GRADE approach and a table of other considerations for decision-making.

Key messages

Racecadotril probably decreases the duration of acute diarrhea in pediatric population.
It appears to be a beneficial and safe intervention, but its cost is still high.

About the body of evidence for this question

What is the evidence. See evidence matrix in Epistemonikos later	We found three systematic reviews [1],[2],[3] including nine randomized controlled trials, reported in eight references [4],[5],[6],[7],[8],[9],[10],[11] (one reference reports two studies [10]).
What types of patients were included	All trials included exclusively pediatric patients, between 3 to 71 months old, with acute diarrhea of viral or bacterial etiology. Four studies considered only inpatients [4],[5],[8],[10] and five outpatients only [6],[7],[9],[10],[11]. Stool output and number of diarrheic stools the day before inclusion was registered, showing no difference between racecadotril and placebo groups.
What types of interventions were included	Trials evaluated oral racecadotril; in six the dose was 1.5 mg/kg every 8 hours [4],[5],[6],[7],[8],[9], two administered 10 mg or 20 mg every 8 hours adjusted by body weight (over or under 9 kg) and one did not specify dosage [11]. All studies compared adding racecadotril to standard treatment (oral rehydration solution). Three were also placebo controlled [4],[5],[8].
What types of outcomes were measured	Proportion of responders (defined as diarrhea duration less than 48 hours), proportion of patients not cured at fifth day of therapy, daily stool output and volume and number of vomits the first 48 hours of treatment.

Summary of findings

The following information about the effects of racecadotril is based on nine randomized trials that included 1384 patients. Our analysis is based on the systematic review that conducted an individual patient data analysis [3]. The outcome measured was resolution of acute diarrhea before 48 hours of treatment.

Racecadotril probably reduces the duration of acute diarrhea in pediatric patients. The certainty of the evidence is moderate.

Other considerations for decision-making

To whom this evidence does and does not apply

This evidence applies to pediatric patients with clinical diagnosis of acute diarrhea of viral or bacterial etiology, hospitalized or in ambulatory care.
This evidence does not apply to immunosuppressed patients or with severe comorbidities.

About the outcomes included in this summary

We selected “proportion of responders” as outcome because it was the only outcome critical for decision-making according to the opinion of the authors of this summary. It was also the only one included in all randomized trials available and was subject of analysis of one of the reviews [3] included in this summary.
It might be relevant to analyze outcomes as need for hospitalization, need for intravenous hydration, additional emergency department visits, among others.

Balance between benefits and risks, and certainty of the evidence

None of the studies reported significant adverse effects with racecadotril. It is also an approved therapy for pediatric population [12].
The certainty of the evidence is moderate, but there is a probable benefit of the intervention in terms of decreasing diarrhea duration and it would be also a low risk therapy.

What would patients and their doctors think about this intervention

Racecadotril is a complement to acute diarrhea treatment and does not replace the use of oral rehydration solutions.
Pediatric practice involves parents and/or patient caregivers. It is important to consider their concerns about disease. In this scenario and highlighting acute diarrhea is usually a self-limited condition, it is reasonable to suggest racecadotril as an adjuvant therapy that may have benefits but involves costs.

Resource considerations

Racecadotril is still not widely available and adds costs to standard treatment for acute diarrhea (oral rehydration solution). Considering it could shorten the duration of the disease which might lower risk of dehydration, using racecadotril could decrease healthcare costs (hospital bed use, emergency department visits). However, it is not possible to make an appropriate cost-benefit analysis with the evidence available, especially because of the lack of information on other important outcomes.

Differences between this summary and other sources

Our summary is consistent with the systematic reviews identified.
We reviewed the Evidence-Based Guidelines for the Management of Acute Gastroenteritis in Children of the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition (ESPGHAN) and the European Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases [13]. Their recommendations are consistent with the conclusions of our summary.

Could this evidence change in the future?

The certainty of the available evidence is moderate, although only one outcome was analyzed.
We are aware of ongoing randomized controlled trials about racecadotril for acute diarrhea in children, so it is possible that they provide new information for this question in the future.

How we conducted this summary

Using automated and collaborative means, we compiled all the relevant evidence for the question of interest and we present it as a matrix of evidence.

Follow the link to access the interactive version: Racecadotril for acute diarrhea in children

Notes

The upper portion of the matrix of evidence will display a warning of “new evidence” if new systematic reviews are published after the publication of this summary. Even though the project considers the periodical update of these summaries, users are invited to comment in Medwave or to contact the authors through email if they find new evidence and the summary should be updated earlier. After creating an account in Epistemonikos, users will be able to save the matrixes and to receive automated notifications any time new evidence potentially relevant for the question appears.

The details about the methods used to produce these summaries are described here http://dx.doi.org/10.5867/medwave.2014.06.5997.

Epistemonikos foundation is a non-for-profit organization aiming to bring information closer to health decision-makers with technology. Its main development is Epistemonikos database (www.epistemonikos.org).

These summaries follow a rigorous process of internal peer review.

Conflicts of interest
The authors do not have relevant interests to declare.

Licencia Creative Commons

Esta obra de Medwave est� bajo una licencia Creative Commons Atribuci�n-NoComercial 3.0 Unported. Esta licencia permite el uso, distribuci�n y reproducci�n del art�culo en cualquier medio, siempre y cuando se otorgue el cr�dito correspondiente al autor del art�culo y al medio en que se publica, en este caso, Medwave.

Edici�n Julio 2022

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