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Bile salt malabsorption in the radiation syndrome
Acta Radiologica: Oncology, Radiation, Physics, Biology
|January 1, 1978
Summary
Pelvic irradiation can cause gastrointestinal issues. Patients with diarrhoea showed high faecal bile salt excretion, indicating bile salt malabsorption as a key cause.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Oncology
- Radiology
Background:
- Pelvic irradiation is a common cancer treatment.
- Gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhoea can occur post-irradiation.
- The role of bile salt metabolism in these symptoms is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate bile salt malabsorption in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms after pelvic irradiation.
- To determine the correlation between faecal bile salt excretion and diarrhoea in this patient group.
Main Methods:
- Intravenous administration of 14C-labelled cholic acid.
- Measurement of the fraction of faecal activity (FBS) excreted.
- Comparison of FBS levels in patients with and without diarrhoea versus normal controls.
Main Results:
- Patients with diarrhoea exhibited significantly higher FBS (52 +/- 16%) compared to those without (18 +/- 12%).
- Normal FBS excretion is typically below 18%.
- Elevated FBS suggests malabsorption of bile salts.
Conclusions:
- Bile salt malabsorption is a significant factor in the development of diarrhoea following pelvic irradiation.
- These findings highlight a specific mechanism contributing to post-radiation gastrointestinal distress.