Related Experiment Videos
Intestinal absorption of L-tryptophan in scleroderma
Acta Dermato-Venereologica
|January 1, 1976
Summary
Intestinal absorption of L-tryptophan is generally normal in scleroderma patients, indicating preserved absorptive function. Some cases show altered tryptophan levels possibly due to increased protein binding.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Dermatology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Scleroderma, a connective tissue disease, can affect gastrointestinal function.
- Assessing intestinal absorption is crucial for understanding nutrient deficiencies in scleroderma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate L-tryptophan intestinal absorption in scleroderma patients.
- To evaluate overall intestinal absorptive function in systemic scleroderma (PSS).
Main Methods:
- Oral L-tryptophan loading tests were conducted.
- Serum tryptophan, urinary indole-acetic acid (IAA), and indican (IS) were measured.
- D-xylose and Schilling tests were performed in subsets of patients.
Main Results:
- Most scleroderma patients exhibited normal L-tryptophan absorption and serum levels post-loading.
- Some severe PSS cases showed depressed serum tryptophan with normal urinary metabolites.
- Intestinal absorptive function, assessed by D-xylose and Schilling tests, was largely normal.
Conclusions:
- Intestinal absorption of L-tryptophan is typically normal in scleroderma.
- Overall intestinal absorptive function appears preserved in the majority of PSS patients.
- Altered serum tryptophan may relate to increased albumin binding in some cases.