Ineffectiveness of vitamin A therapy in severe Crohn's disease.
In Crohn's disease there are changes in the ultrastructure of the intestinal epithelium, not only in the inflammatory tissue but also in non-ulcerated areas and in non-involved resection margins. Vitamin A is known to influence the metabolism and differentiation of epithelial tissue and has also been reported to normalize the number of stools after ileocaecal resection for Crohn's disease. We gave vitamin A (150 000 U daily) for 2 weeks to 8 patients with severe but not acute Crohn's disease. Various clinical parameters and the mucosal permeability to different-sized polyethyleneglycols were investigated before and after the administration of vitamin A. Disappointingly, no patient derived any benefit from the vitamin A ingestion as regards subjective manifestations, clinical signs, or mucosal permeability. However, some patients with Crohn's disease have low plasma concentrations of vitamin A and should be offered replacement therapy.
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000378:metabolism; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014801:Vitamin A; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols