Anakinra for the Treatment of Recurrent Postprandial Hypoglycemia After Total Gastrectomy in a Patient With End-Stage Renal Disease

Post-meal low blood sugar (postprandial hypoglycemia) is a common problem after certain stomach surgeries like gastric bypass or stomach removal. It usually happens 1 to 3 hours after eating and can cause symptoms such as tiredness, hunger, sweating, dizziness, trouble speaking, or even fainting. Right now, there is no approved medication for this condition-only a careful diet reduced in sugars and refined carbohydrates can sometimes help reduce symptoms.

The AnPHy-ReD study is a personalized research study, designed for just one patient. This patient is a 52-year-old man who has been struggling with severe post-meal low blood sugar ever since his stomach was removed due to tumor in 2017. He also has end-stage kidney disease and needs dialysis three times a week.

The study is being conducted at the Cantonal Hospital of Olten in Switzerland and lasts 10 weeks, including 24 study visits. Most of these visits will happen during the patient's regular dialysis sessions. For 6 weeks, the patient will take either the drug Anakinra or a placebo (a substance with no active ingredient), in a randomly chosen order. Neither the patient nor the doctors will know which one he is taking at any given time.

During the study, the medical team will perform various tests, including physical check-ups and blood samples to look at sugar levels, various hormone levels and inflammation in the body. The patient will also wear a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to track his blood sugar levels 24/7. In addition, he will do several mixed meal tests-this means drinking a shake containing fats, proteins, and sugars during a study appointment to see in real time how his body processes food, with doctors measuring changes in blood sugar, hormone and inflammation markers over time. During the study duration any side effects or symptoms will be closely monitored.

At the end of the study, the team will compare the results between the times the patient took Anakinra and the times he took the placebo. This will help find out if Anakinra can reduce sharp drops in blood sugar after meals and improve his overall condition.