Impaired splenic function and tuftsin deficiency in patients with intestinal failure on long term intravenous nutrition.
BACKGROUND
Reticuloendothelial system function is impaired in humans receiving lipid regimens.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of long term administration of long chain triglyceride emulsions on reticuloendothelial system function.


METHODS
Splenic function and tuftsin activity were measured in 20 patients on intravenous nutrition for intestinal failure, 20 patients with Crohn's disease who were not receiving intravenous nutrition, and 50 healthy controls.


RESULTS
Pitted red cells counts in patients on intravenous nutrition (8.0%) were significantly higher (p<0.001) than in healthy controls (0.6%) and in patients with Crohn's disease (0.9%). No difference was found between healthy controls and patients with Crohn's disease. There was a correlation (r=0.50; p<0.03) between percentage of pitted red cells and duration of intravenous nutrition. Tuftsin activity was significantly reduced in the intravenous nutrition patient group (6%) compared with both disease controls (16.5%, p<0.01) and healthy volunteers (17.8%, p<0.001). An inverse correlation between tuftsin activity and pitted red cell percentage was found in the patients on intravenous nutrition (r(s) =-0.44, p<0.05). No relation was found in the patients on intravenous nutrition between pitted red cell percentage or tuftsin activity and type of disease, percentage of ideal body weight, residual length of small intestine, or administration (quantity and frequency) of lipid emulsion. Eight patients on intravenous nutrition had serious infections within the previous 12 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with a short bowel treated with long term intravenous nutrition have impaired splenic function, reduced tuftsin activity, and an increased risk of infection.
Zoli
G
G
Digestive Diseases Research Centre, St Bartholomew's and the Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Turner Street, London E1 2AD, UK.
Corazza
G R
GR
Wood
S
S
Bartoli
R
R
Gasbarrini
G
G
Farthing
M J
MJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016331:Parenteral Nutrition, Home / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012778:Short Bowel Syndrome / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014405:Tuftsin / Q000172:deficiency*
D005217:Fat Emulsions, Intravenous; D014405:Tuftsin