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[Intestinal permeability disorders in children]
Insights
Intestinal permeability, or "porosity," allows molecules to cross the gut wall. This can be assessed using inert markers to evaluate small intestine integrity and diagnose conditions like celiac disease.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- The intestinal lining exhibits permeability, allowing passage of molecules and macromolecules.
- Intestinal permeability is influenced by molecular size and mucosal status.
- This property is crucial for nutrient absorption and barrier function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the integrity of the small intestine using inert markers.
- To investigate the diagnostic utility of intestinal permeability tests.
- To assess the role of intestinal permeability in pediatric enteropathies and intolerances.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing inert markers of various molecular weights, including polyethylene glycols (PEG).
- Employing monosaccharide sugars (mannitol, rhamnose) and disaccharide sugars (lactulose, cellobiose).
- Assessing intestinal permeability through marker passage into circulation, potentially alongside food provocation tests.
Main Results:
- Intestinal permeability testing aids in detecting conditions such as celiac disease and Crohn's disease.
- The method is repeatable and valuable for diagnosing food intolerances in children.
- Abnormal permeability can indicate enteropathy related to cow's milk proteins, atopic dermatitis, and irritable colon.
Conclusions:
- Inert marker assessment of intestinal permeability is a valuable tool for evaluating small intestine integrity.
- This technique supports the diagnosis of various gastrointestinal and allergic conditions in both adults and children.
- Repeated measurements are feasible, particularly for monitoring responses during diagnostic food challenges.
Abstract:
The intestinal mucosa has a certain degree of "porosity", which allows some molecules and macromolecules that are not subject to active transport, to cross the intestinal wall and enter the blood circulation. This permeability of the intestinal mucosa, which depends mostly on the size of the molecule and the state of the mucosa, can be studied with the assistance of protein macromolecules in an allergy-immunological investigation, or with inert markers, so permitting evaluation of the state of integrity of the small intestine. The markers used are polyethylene glycols (PEG) of various molecular weights, Cr EDTA, the monosaccharide sugars mannitol or rhamnose and the disaccharide sugars lactulose or cellobiose. Study of the intestinal permeability to inert markers allows detection of coeliac or Crohn's disease. It can be repeated, especially at the time of food provocation tests needed in the diagnosis of food intolerances in pediatrics in the enteropathology to cows milk proteins, atopic dermatitis and irritable colon in children.