Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

An Intravital Microscopy-Based Approach to Assess Intestinal Permeability and Epithelial Cell Shedding Performance
07:32

An Intravital Microscopy-Based Approach to Assess Intestinal Permeability and Epithelial Cell Shedding Performance

Published on: December 3, 2020

Altered intestinal permeability is predictive of early relapse in children with steroid-responsive ulcerative colitis

E Miele1, F Pascarella, L Quaglietta

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.

Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics
|April 4, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Small intestinal permeability testing may predict early relapse in pediatric ulcerative colitis. Abnormal results indicate a higher likelihood of disease recurrence in children with this condition.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease Research
  • Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

  • Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease affecting the colon.
  • Predicting early relapse in pediatric UC is crucial for timely intervention.
  • Small bowel involvement is not typically considered a primary factor in UC relapse prediction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if small bowel involvement at diagnosis can predict early relapse in children with ulcerative colitis.
  • To assess the utility of small intestinal permeability studies in identifying children at risk for early UC relapse.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective evaluation of newly diagnosed pediatric UC patients at 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year.
  • Assessment of clinical activity indices and laboratory parameters.
  • Performance of colonoscopy and cellobiose/mannitol small intestinal permeability study at diagnosis.

Main Results:

  • Twenty-seven percent of patients relapsed within 6 months; 70% did not relapse within 1 year.
  • Clinical and laboratory markers, along with colonic findings, did not predict early relapse.
  • Elevated cellobiose/mannitol small intestinal permeability was significantly associated with early relapse (P < 0.013), abnormal in 77.8% of early relapsers versus 8.3% of non-relapsers.

Conclusions:

  • Abnormal small intestinal permeability at diagnosis is a significant predictor of early relapse in pediatric ulcerative colitis.
  • This finding suggests small bowel dysfunction may play a role in UC disease course.
  • Small intestinal permeability testing could aid in risk stratification for pediatric UC patients.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Analyzing Beneficial Effects of Nutritional Supplements on Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Functions During Experimental Colitis08:58

Analyzing Beneficial Effects of Nutritional Supplements on Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Functions During Experimental Colitis

Published on: January 5, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Ulcerative Colitis01:20

Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Ulcerative Colitis

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the colon characterized by continuous mucosal inflammation that typically begins in the rectum and extends proximally in a uniform pattern. Its pathogenesis involves a complex interplay of genetic predisposition, immune dysregulation, and environmental influences. These factors converge to impair the colon’s epithelial defenses and promote an exaggerated inflammatory response against luminal contents.Breakdown of the Mucosal BarrierA...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis01:27

Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Ulcerative Colitis

Introduction
Inflammatory bowel disease, or IBD, encompasses a group of disorders characterized by chronic inflammation or ulceration of the gastrointestinal tract.
Risk Factors
The exact cause of IBD remains unclear, although it is believed to be due to a mix of genetic, environmental, microbial, and immune factors. Genetic factors are significant in determining susceptibility to IBD, with family history being a critical risk factor. Individuals with a first-degree relative who has IBD are at...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease01:25

Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease

Crohn’s disease is a chronic, relapsing form of inflammatory bowel disease characterized by segmental, transmural inflammation that can affect any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Its pathogenesis arises from a combination of genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, epithelial barrier dysfunction, and immune dysregulation. Together, these factors lead to an exaggerated immune response against components of the gut microbiome.Genetic and Environmental InfluencesMultiple genetic...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations01:20

Inflammatory Bowel Disease IV: Clinical Manifestations

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses two major chronic disorders—ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease—each characterized by relapsing episodes of gastrointestinal inflammation. Although they share certain clinical features, their patterns of involvement and manifestations differ in ways that aid diagnosis and guide management.Ulcerative ColitisUlcerative colitis is limited to the colon and rectum and involves continuous inflammation of the mucosal layer. The disease course is marked...
Drugs for Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis in IBD01:29

Drugs for Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis in IBD

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory condition primarily affecting the colon and rectum. The primary drugs used in the treatment of ulcerative colitis are aminosalicylates. They exhibit anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. They modulate inflammatory mediators and inhibit the activity of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). Aminosalicylates also reduce inflammation by inhibiting prostaglandin and leukotriene production and decreasing neutrophil chemotaxis and superoxide generation. 
Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Introduction01:26

Inflammatory Bowel Disease I: Introduction

Inflammatory bowel disease is a group of chronic disorders marked by recurrent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract due to an abnormal immune response against gut microflora. This leads to tissue damage. The two main forms are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.Crohn’s DiseaseCrohn’s disease is a relapsing inflammatory disorder that can affect any part of the GI tract, from the mouth to the anus. It involves all layers of the bowel wall (transmural) and shows “skip lesions” in which...