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Gastrointestinal permeability and absorptive capacity in sepsis
J D Johnston1, C J Harvey, I S Menzies
1Department of Chemical Pathology, United Medical School, St. Thomas' Hospital, UK.
Critical Care Medicine
|July 1, 1996
Summary
Sepsis significantly impairs gastrointestinal function, increasing gut permeability and reducing nutrient absorption. These findings highlight potential new therapeutic targets for sepsis management.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Critical Care Medicine
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- Sepsis is a life-threatening condition characterized by a dysregulated host response to infection.
- Gastrointestinal dysfunction is common in sepsis but its specific impact on permeability and absorption requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantitatively assess gastrointestinal permeability and functional absorptive capacity in patients diagnosed with sepsis.
- To compare these gastrointestinal parameters between septic patients and healthy controls.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study was conducted involving 20 septic patients (mean APACHE II score 18.4) and healthy controls.
- Differential saccharide absorption was measured using an oral test solution (lactulose, L-rhamnose, D-xylose, 3-O-methyl-D-glucose) and subsequent urine excretion analysis over 5 hours.
Main Results:
- Septic patients demonstrated significantly higher lactulose/L-rhamnose urine excretion ratios (0.23 ± 0.19 vs. 0.03 ± 0.01, p < .001), indicating increased gastrointestinal permeability.
- Conversely, septic patients showed significantly lower L-rhamnose/3-O-methyl-D-glucose urine excretion ratios (0.14 ± 0.07 vs. 0.28 ± 0.08, p < .001), suggesting reduced functional absorptive capacity.
Conclusions:
- Acute sepsis is associated with compromised gastrointestinal barrier function and diminished absorptive capabilities.
- These gastrointestinal abnormalities may play a significant role in the overall pathophysiology of sepsis.