Intestinal permeability to polyethylene glycols in monozygotic twins with Crohn's disease.
BACKGROUND
A deranged mucosal permeability, demonstrated in several studies, has been proposed to play a role in the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease. The possibility of a genetically determined alteration of paracellular transport has been indicated in some investigations. The identification of a group of monozygotic twin pairs concordant and discordant for Crohn's disease, prompted this investigation.


METHODS
Intestinal absorption after an oral load of different-sized polyethylene glycols (mol.wt, 458-810) was studied as 6-h urinary recovery. The study groups comprised twins with Crohn's disease (n = 19) and their healthy twin siblings (n = 9), non-twin patients with Crohn's disease (n = 14), and healthy controls (n = 30).


RESULTS
No differences were found in the absorption of polyethylene glycols between the study groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The results give no support to the hypothesis of a genetically determined intestinal leakiness in Crohn's disease.
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004200:Diseases in Twins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010539:Permeability; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D014430:Twins, Monozygotic
D011092:Polyethylene Glycols