Intestinal disaccharidase activity in human immunodeficiency virus disease.
BACKGROUND
The relationship between disaccharidase activity, progression of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease, and diarrhoea and weight loss was investigated.


METHODS
Forty-six HIV-positive patients ingested a solution of lactose, palatinose, sucrose, and lactulose after 24 h of dietary exclusion and overnight fasting, after which urine was collected for 10 h. Urinary disaccharide (activity) ratios-lactose/lactulose (L/LL), palatinose/lactulose (P/LL), and sucrose/lactulose (S/LL)-were measured by thin-layer chromatography.


RESULTS
There was a significant decrease in disaccharidase activity (L/LL, P/LL, and S/LL) with advancing clinical stage of HIV disease (p < 0.05, Wilcoxon rank sum test) as well as decreasing CD4 count (p < 0.05, Spearman correlation). Patients with weight loss/diarrhoea also had significantly (p < 0.05) decreased disaccharidase activity compared with control but not as compared with AIDS patients. Anti-retroviral therapy did not influence disaccharidase activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Impairment of disaccharidase activity occurs with advancing HIV disease, but its role in HIV patients with weight loss and diarrhoea remains to be determined.
Lim
S G
SG
University Dept. of Medicine, Haemophilia Centre, London, UK.
Menzies
I S
IS
Nukajam
W S
WS
Lee
C A
CA
Johnson
M A
MA
Pounder
R E
RE
D000328:Adult; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology; D004186:Disaccharidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004187:Disaccharides / Q000652:urine; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D015431:Weight Loss
D004187:Disaccharides; D004186:Disaccharidases