Intestinal permeability and vitamin A absorption in patients with chemotherapy-induced diarrhea.
OBJECTIVE
Gastrointestinal toxicity is one of the most common side effects of anticancer therapy. Measurement of intestinal permeability represents one of the potential methods of noninvasive laboratory assessment of gastrointestinal toxicity. The aim of the present study was to investigate intestinal permeability and vitamin A absorption in patients with chemotherapy-induced diarrhea (CID).


METHODS
We have assessed intestinal permeability, by measuring absorption of lactulose, mannitol, xylose, and vitamin A absorption, in 11 patients with CID, 10 healthy controls, and 24 untreated patients with gastrointestinal tumors. Urinary lactulose, mannitol and xylose were measured by capillary gas chromatography and serum retinol and retinyl esters were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The results obtained in patients and controls were compared by Mann-Whitney U test.


RESULTS
Lactulose/mannitol and lactulose/xylose ratios were increased and retinol esters (retinyl palmitate and retinyl stearate) were decreased significantly in patients with CID.


CONCLUSIONS
Measurements of intestinal permeability and vitamin A absorption may represent sensitive tools in the assessment of CID.
Melichar
Bohuslav
B
Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Charles University Medical School and Teaching Hospital, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. bohuslav.melichar@fnol.cz
Dvorák
Josef
J
Krcmová
Lenka
L
Hyspler
Radomír
R
Urbánek
Lubor
L
Solichová
Dagmar
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D046152:Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007792:Lactulose / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008353:Mannitol / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D010539:Permeability; D011379:Prognosis; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000378:metabolism*; D014994:Xylose / Q000652:urine; D055815:Young Adult
D014801:Vitamin A; D008353:Mannitol; D007792:Lactulose; D014994:Xylose