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Intestinal permeability in pediatric gastroenterology
R M van Elburg1, J J Uil, J G de Monchy
1Dept. of Pediatrics and Allergology, University Hospital, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology. Supplement
|January 1, 1992
Summary
The small intestinal barrier
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
- Physiology
Background:
- The intestinal mucosal barrier protects against harmful substances.
- It involves non-immunologic (e.g., mucin) and immunologic (e.g., IgA) defenses.
- This barrier matures by age two, with permeability assessed by sugar absorption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the role of intestinal permeability (IP) in health and disease.
- To highlight the diagnostic utility of the sugar absorption test (SAT).
Main Methods:
- Assessed small bowel barrier function using the differential sugar absorption test (SAT).
- Measured urinary excretion ratio of lactulose (large molecule) to mannitol (small molecule).
Main Results:
- Increased IP is implicated in diseases like infectious diarrhea, food allergy, celiac disease, and Crohn's disease.
- The SAT effectively reflects the small mucosal barrier's state.
- SAT is a non-invasive tool for diagnosing altered barrier function.
Conclusions:
- Intestinal permeability, measured by SAT, is a key indicator of small bowel mucosal barrier function.
- SAT can aid in diagnosing gastrointestinal diseases and evaluating treatment efficacy.