title: Assessment of intestinal malabsorption.
abstract: Significant efforts have been made in the last decade to either standardize the available tests for intestinal malabsorption or to develop new, more simple and reliable techniques. The quest is still on and, unfortunately, clinical practice has not dramatically changed. The investigation of intestinal malabsorption is directed by the patient's history and baseline tests. Endoscopy and small bowel biopsies play a major role although non-invasive tests are favored and often performed early on the diagnostic algorithm, especially in paediatric and fragile elderly patients. The current clinically available methods and research tools are summarized in this review article.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Liver Unit (including Small Bowel Transplantation), Birmingham Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham, B4 6NH, UK.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nikaki
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Liver Unit (including Small Bowel Transplantation), Birmingham Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Steelhouse Lane, Birmingham, B4 6NH, UK. Electronic address: girish.gupte@bch.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Gupte
mesh_terms: D001765:Blind Loop Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D002239:Carbohydrate Metabolism, Inborn Errors / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000502:physiology*; D052439:Lipid Metabolism Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D008286:Malabsorption Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011504:Protein-Losing Enteropathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D012778:Short Bowel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology
keywords: Carbohydrate malabsorption; Fat malabsorption; Intestinal malabsorption; Plasma citrulline level; Protein losing enteropathy; Small bowel bacterial overgrowth; Small bowel malabsorption