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Abnormal small bowel permeability and duodenitis in recurrent abdominal pain
S B van der Meer1, P P Forget, J W Arends
1Department of Paediatrics, Academic Hospital, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|December 1, 1990
Summary
Recurrent abdominal pain in children may stem from the intestine. Studies show duodenal inflammation is linked to increased intestinal permeability, suggesting an intestinal origin for these symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Gastrointestinal Physiology
Background:
- Recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) is a common childhood complaint.
- The underlying cause of RAP is often unclear, prompting investigation into gastrointestinal factors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate duodenal inflammatory changes in children with RAP.
- To determine the relationship between duodenal inflammation and intestinal permeability.
Main Methods:
- Endoscopic duodenal biopsies were performed on 39 children (aged 5.5-12 years) with RAP.
- Duodenal inflammation was assessed using the Whitehead duodenitis scale (grades 0-3).
- Intestinal permeability was measured using 51Cr-EDTA.
Main Results:
- Definite duodenal inflammation (grades 2 and 3) was observed in 33% of patients.
- Intestinal permeability was significantly higher in patients with duodenitis (grades 1-3) compared to those with normal biopsies (grade 0).
- A significant association was found between duodenal inflammation and abnormal intestinal permeability.
Conclusions:
- Duodenal inflammation is present in a notable proportion of children with recurrent abdominal pain.
- Increased intestinal permeability is associated with duodenal inflammation in these children.
- Findings support an intestinal origin for recurrent abdominal pain in children.