title: Subjective food hypersensitivity: assessment of enterochromaffin cell markers in blood and gut lavage fluid.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Food hypersensitivity is commonly suspected, but seldom verified. Patients with subjective food hypersensitivity suffer from both intestinal and extraintestinal health complaints. Abnormalities of the enterochromaffin cells may play a role in the pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate enterochromaffin cell function in patients with subjective food hypersensitivity by measuring serum chromogranin A (CgA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) in gut lavage fluid.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-nine patients with subjective food hypersensitivity were examined. Twenty-three patients with inflammatory bowel disease and 35 healthy volunteers were included as comparison groups. CgA was measured in serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Gut lavage fluid was obtained by administering 2 L of polyethylene glycol solution intraduodenally. The first clear fluid passed per rectum was collected and 5-HT was analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum levels of CgA were significantly lower in patients with subjective food hypersensitivity than in healthy controls (P = 0.04). No differences were found in 5-HT levels in gut lavage fluid between patients with subjective food hypersensitivity and the control groups. There was no correlation between serum CgA and gut lavage 5-HT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Decreased blood levels of CgA suggest neuroendocrine alterations in patients with subjective food hypersensitivity. However, 5-HT levels in gut lavage fluid were normal.
authors: Institute of Medicine, University of Bergen. kine.gregersen@nifes.no
authors: Kine
authors: K
authors: Gregersen
authors: Jørgen
authors: J
authors: Valeur
authors: Kristine
authors: K
authors: Lillestøl
authors: Livar
authors: L
authors: Frøyland
authors: Pedro
authors: P
authors: Araujo
authors: Gülen Arslan
authors: GA
authors: Lied
authors: Arnold
authors: A
authors: Berstad