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[Abnormalities of intestinal permeability of 51Cr-EDTA in mucoviscidosis]
Insights
Children with cystic fibrosis (CF) exhibit significantly increased intestinal permeability, indicated by higher 51Cr-EDTA excretion. This heightened permeability correlates with steatorrhea but not other clinical factors.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Pediatrics
- Biochemistry
Context:
- Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disorder affecting multiple organs, including the gastrointestinal tract.
- Altered intestinal permeability is suspected in CF but requires quantitative assessment.
- Chromium-51 ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (51Cr-EDTA) is a validated marker for intestinal permeability.
Purpose:
- To quantitatively assess intestinal permeability in children with cystic fibrosis (CF) using 51Cr-EDTA.
- To compare intestinal permeability in CF patients with healthy children and adults.
- To investigate correlations between intestinal permeability and clinical parameters in CF.
Summary:
- Twenty children with CF, seven control adults, and eleven control children underwent oral 51Cr-EDTA administration.
- Urinary 51Cr-EDTA excretion was significantly higher in CF patients (10.7% +/- 8.6%) compared to controls (1.59% +/- 0.55% for children, 1.47% +/- 0.62% for adults) (p < 0.001).
- A significant correlation was found between elevated 51Cr-EDTA excretion and steatorrhea (p < 0.01).
Impact:
- This study demonstrates markedly increased intestinal permeability in pediatric CF patients.
- The findings suggest a potential link between gastrointestinal dysfunction and malabsorption in CF.
- Further research is needed to clarify the clinical and nutritional implications of increased intestinal permeability in CF.
Abstract:
Intestinal permeability to 51Cr-EDTA was studied in 20 children with cystic fibrosis (CF) and a mean age of 10.7 years, in 7 control adults and in 11 control children. 51Cr-EDTA urinary excretion (mean +/- SD) expressed as a percentage of the orally administered activity was: control children: 1.59 +/- 0.55%, control adults: 1.47 +/- 0.62%, CF patients: 10.7 +/- 8.6%. The difference between CF patients and control children on one hand, between CF patients and control adults on the other hand, was statistically significant (p less than 0.001). Only 3 CF patients had values within the limits of those observed in controls. A statistically significant correlation (p less than 0.01) was observed between the 51Cr-EDTA urinary excretion and steatorrhea. No correlation was found between 51Cr-EDTA urinary excretion and the following parameters: age, sex, weight, height, Shwachman score, liver cirrhosis, oral administration of a mucolytic agent. The eventual, especially nutritional, consequences of this increase of the intestinal permeability in the course of CF remain to be clarified.