[Structural changes in the ileal mucosa of urinary conduits]

To study the changes found in the terminal ileum mucosa in contact with urine in patients with skin ureteroileostomy following cystectomy due to infiltrant carcinoma of the bladder.

21 biopsies of gut mucosa were performed in as many patients. Measurements included height of intestinal villi (average values -AV-: 350-300 mu), height of crypts (AV: 70-100 mu), crypt/villus ratio (AV: 0.2), goblet cells/enterocytes ratio, presence of lymphangiectasis and inflammatory infiltrate. Also the existence of lab changes were measured with ionogram and venous gasometry.

Mean age of patients was 65.2 years +/- 7.4 SD. Males 66.7%. Time of evolution with urinary by-pass was 59.5 months +/- 53.2 SD. Mean height of villi 178.2 mu +/- 70.2 SD, mean height of crypts 290.9 mu +/- 114.4 SD and mean crypt/villus ratio 4.2 +/- 9.2 SD. Submucous inflammatory infiltrate was mild in 57.1%, moderate in 23.8%, and severe in 19.0%. Only 2 cases had lymphangiectasis images. Goblet cells/enterocytes ratio was 3.3 +/- 1.3 SD. No correlation was seen between time of evolution of urinary by-pass with the various changes in gut mucosa or between degree of mucosal atrophy and existence of metabolic disorders.

Changes in the terminal ileum mucosa in patients with skin ureteroileostomy-like urinary by-pass are characterised by a marked atrophy of intestinal villi with increased crypt length, increased crypt/villus ratio and presence of mild-to-moderate inflammatory infiltrate. There is also an increase of goblet cells in detriment of enterocytes. All these changes are independent from the time of evolution of patients with urinary by-pass.