title: Pneumatosis cystoides coli associated with high H2 excretion. Treatment with an elemental diet.
abstract: A patient with severe diarrhoea and gas-filled cysts in the wall of the colon is reported. The patient had normal lung function but an extremely high end-expiratory H2 fasting value. Treatment with an elemental diet for 2 weeks resulted in a decreased H2 value and in regression of the cysts. After 4 months on a normal diet extensive recurrence was observed. We conclude that excessive intestinal gas production may play a role in the pathogenesis of the cysts.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000178:diet therapy*; D005215:Fasting; D005740:Gases; D006801:Humans; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000032:analysis; D007422:Intestines; D008297:Male; D011006:Pneumatosis Cystoides Intestinalis / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012008:Recurrence; D012119:Respiration
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D006859:Hydrogen