title: [Whole blood citrulline levels in patients with coeliac disease].
abstract: Citrulline is a non-protein amino acid synthesized by the intestine. Whole blood citrulline concentrations in patients with coeliac disease have not been reported. The aim of the study was determination of the amino acid concentrations in coeliacs on gluten-free diet and gluten-containing diet.
  
  
  METHODS
  61 patients with coeliac disease were studied. Whole blood citrulline were determined in dried blood spots by tandem mass spectrometry. One-way analysis of variance and the Bonferroni post hoc test for multiple comparisons were used to determine differences among groups under study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean citrulline levels were higher in patients on strict gluten-free diet comparing to those newly diagnosed (32.2 +/- 8.7 vs. 24.9 +/- 5.7 micromol/l; p = 0.025).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Whole blood citrulline concentration may be a simple biochemical marker for diagnosis and monitoring enterocyte loss in coeliac disease.
authors.affiliation: Institut Matki i Dziecka w Warszawie, Klinika Pediatrii. khozyasz@alpha.net.pl
authors.forename: Kamil K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Hozyasz
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szaflarska-Popławska
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ołtarzewski
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mazur
authors.forename: Lucyna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jabłońska
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Milanowski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002956:Citrulline / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D020895:Enterocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005983:Glutens / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D002956:Citrulline; D005983:Glutens