Intestinal permeability before and after ibuprofen in families of children with Crohn's disease.
BACKGROUND
Members of a subset of first-degree relatives of adults with Crohn's disease have been shown to have an increased baseline intestinal permeability and/or an exaggerated increase in intestinal permeability after the administration of acetylsalicylic acid.


OBJECTIVE
To determine intestinal permeability in unaffected first-degree relatives of children with Crohn's disease before and after the administration of an ibuprofen challenge.


METHODS
Lactulose-mannitol ratios, a measure of intestinal permeability, were determined in 14 healthy control families (41 subjects) and 14 families with a child with Crohn's disease (36 relatives, 14 probands) before and after ingestion of ibuprofen. An upper reference limit was defined using the control group as mean +/- 2 SD.


RESULTS
The proportion of healthy, first-degree relatives with an exaggerated response to ibuprofen (20%, 95% CI 7% to 33%) was significantly higher than controls (P = 0.003). The exaggerated response was more common among siblings than among parents of pediatric probands.


CONCLUSIONS
Members of a subset of first-degree relatives of children with Crohn's disease have an exaggerated increase in intestinal permeability after ibuprofen ingestion. These findings are compatible with there being a genetic link between abnormalities of intestinal permeability and Crohn's disease.
Zamora
S A
SA
Department of Pediatrics, Health Science Centre, Calgary, Alberta.
Hilsden
R J
RJ
Meddings
J B
JB
Butzner
J D
JD
Scott
R B
RB
Sutherland
L R
LR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D007792:Lactulose; D008297:Male; D008353:Mannitol; D010539:Permeability
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D008353:Mannitol; D007792:Lactulose; D007052:Ibuprofen