[Anatomical and functional changes of the human small intestine induced by 5-fluorouracil (author's transl)]

In 10 female patients with carcinoma the effect of a single dose of 5-fluorouracil on morphologic alterations of the small bowel mucosa, intestinal disaccharidase-activities and lactose-tolerance-test was studied pre- and 96 hours posttherapy. After having given a standard dose of 1,25-1,50 gr 5-fluorouracil intravenously ( = 22 mg per kilo body weight) histologic changes of the small bowel mucosa (slight edema and shortening of the villi) were noted only in 4 cases. In the other cases the small intestine showed no morphological alterations of the mucosa. In all patients the lactose-tolerance-test after therapy with 5-fluorouracil was not affected. Following the administration of 5-fluorouracil no reduction of intestinal disaccharidase activities (maltase, saccharase, lactase) was observed. As a consequence of our results we suppose, that a patient given a single dose of 5-fluorouracil intravenously needs no specific diet without milk or milk-products.