Research Article
Intestinal permeability in children with Crohn's disease and coeliac disease.
Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1982; 285 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.285.6334.20 (Published 03 July 1982) Cite this as: Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1982;285:20
- A D Pearson,
- E J Eastham,
- M F Laker,
- A W Craft,
- R Nelson
Abstract
Mannitol and lactulose were used as probe molecules to measure intestinal permeability in children with active small-bowel Crohn's disease and with untreated coeliac disease. Mannitol and lactulose were administered by mouth in a moderately hypertonic solution (580 mmol (mosmol)/l), and results were expressed as the ratio of the molecules excreted in urine over five hours. Patients with Crohn's disease had a sixfold increase in permeability (due to increased lactulose permeability) and those with coeliac disease a fivefold increase (due to decreased mannitol permeability). From these results the test offers potential as a noninvasive investigation in children with small-bowel disease.