title: Comparison of the D-xylose and polyethylene glycol absorption tests as indicators of mucosal damage in infants with chronic diarrhea.
abstract: The determination of serum levels of D-xylose and the urinary excretion of an orally administered mixture of low-molecular-weight polyethylene glycol were compared to assess their sensitivity to predict small-bowel mucosal damage. Eighteen infants with severe diarrhea and villus atrophy were observed. Results of the D-xylose and polyethylene glycol tests were compared with the villus-to-crypt ratios that were determined from biopsy specimens. The D-xylose test predicted accurately 12 (67%) of the 18 small-bowel biopsy results, while the polyethylene glycol test predicted 14 (78%). However, the McNemar test indicated that the two tests did not differ significantly in their ability to predict an abnormal small-bowel biopsy. We conclude that neither the D-xylose nor the polyethylene glycol test is a reliable indicator of small intestinal mucosal damage in infants with chronic diarrhea.
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Children's Nutrition Research Center, Houston, TX 77030.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lifschitz
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Shulman
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Langston
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Gopalakrishna
mesh_terms: D001284:Atrophy; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology*; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014994:Xylose
chemical_list: D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D014994:Xylose