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Acute yersinia infections in man increase intestinal permeability for low-molecular weight polyethylene glycols (PEG
Abstract:
The passive intestinal permeability of patients with acute diarrhoea was investigated with a liquid meal of oral rehydration fluid containing differently sized, low-molecular weight polyethylene glycols (PEG 400). The recovery of test molecules was measured in 6 h specimens of urine. The subjects suffered from acute infections caused by yersinia bacteria accompanied by joint pains. They were investigated during the infection and at least 3-4 weeks later when they had recovered clinically. It was found that yersinia infections were associated with increased urinary recovery of PEG molecules, and with reduced restriction towards the larger PEG molecules. After the infection, the resorption of PEGs returned towards normal. Thus, the altered restriction of the gut wall towards the passage of probe molecules might help to explain the extraintestinal manifestations often seen in connection with these agents.
Insights
Yersinia infections in patients with acute diarrhea increase intestinal permeability, allowing larger molecules to pass through the gut wall. Gut permeability returns to normal after recovery from the infection.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Acute diarrhea can be caused by bacterial infections, such as Yersinia.
- Yersinia infections are sometimes associated with extraintestinal manifestations, like joint pain.
- The relationship between Yersinia infection, intestinal permeability, and extraintestinal symptoms is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate passive intestinal permeability in patients with acute diarrhea caused by Yersinia infection.
- To determine if Yersinia infection alters the gut wall's restriction of low-molecular-weight molecules.
- To explore the potential link between altered intestinal permeability and extraintestinal manifestations.
Main Methods:
- Investigated passive intestinal permeability using polyethylene glycols (PEGs) of varying sizes in oral rehydration fluid.
- Measured the urinary recovery of PEG molecules over 6 hours in patients during infection and after clinical recovery.
- Compared PEG recovery in infected patients with that of recovered patients.
Main Results:
- Yersinia infections were associated with significantly increased urinary recovery of PEG molecules.
- A reduced restriction towards larger PEG molecules was observed during active infection.
- Intestinal permeability, assessed by PEG recovery, returned to normal levels after the infection resolved.
Conclusions:
- Yersinia infections transiently increase intestinal permeability.
- The altered gut barrier function may contribute to the development of extraintestinal manifestations associated with Yersinia.
- Measuring intestinal permeability could offer insights into the pathogenesis of Yersinia-related complications.