Studies of intestinal permeability in inflammatory diseases using polyethylene glycol 400

It has been proposed that increased bowel permeability might play a role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory disease. Intestinal permeation was investigated by measuring the 6-hour urinary excretion of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 400 in 40 adult volunteer controls and in patients with inflammatory disease. Of the patients, 15 had Crohn's disease; 7, ulcerative colitis; 2, celiac disease; and 7, rheumatoid arthritis. No significant difference in total urinary excretion over a 6-hour period was found between controls and patients with ulcerative colitis. Patients with Crohn's disease, celiac disease, or with rheumatoid arthritis were found to have significantly decreased urinary excretion of PEG 400. The results of this study indicate that there is no identifiable increase in intestinal permeation as measured by PEG 400 excretion during periods of active inflammatory disease.