Kapembwa M, Bridges C, Joseph AE, Fleming SC, Griffin GE; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 1989 Jun 4-9; 5: 218 (abstract no. Th.B.O.41).

St. George's Hospital Medical School, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 ORE

OBJECTIVE: To investigate terminal ileal absorptive function in AIDS. BACKGROUND: Enteropathy affecting the jejunum has been described in AIDS but there is no such information concerning the ileum. We have concurrently assessed ileal function and fat absorption in a group of AIDS patients. METHODS: Terminal ileal absorptive function was investigated in 7 subjects using a previously validated test in which the loss of a radio-labelled synthetic bile acid 75Seleno-23-homocholic acid-Taurine (75SeHCAT) from the enterohepatic circulation is quantitated by abdominal scanning. In addition 57CoVitamin B12 (Vit B12) absorption was measured. Concurrently fat absorption was assessed using the 14C Triolein breath test (CT) and indirect tests of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, 14C Glycocholate (GC) and breath Hydrogen (BH) were carried out. Stool microscopy for enteropathogens was performed in each subject. RESULTS: Normal bile acid and Vit B12 absorption were demonstrated in 5/7 patients (mean SeHCAT loss 20%/day; normal less than 30%/day: mean plasma Vit B12 at 10 hours 1.74%/L; normal greater than 0.5%/L). All 5 subjects had reduced fat absorption (mean CT 87x10(-4)%; normal greater than 140x10(-4)%. Enteropathogens and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth were not detected in any of these subjects. 2/7 subjects had reduced absorption of bile acid (SeHCAT loss 90%/day; 59%/day), Vit B12 (0.25%/L; 0.18%/L) and fat (CT 4x10(-4)%; 133x10(-4)%. Both patients had an enteropathogen (cryptosporidium and isospora) on stool and jejunal histological examination. None of the two subjects had evidence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. CONCLUSION: AIDS patients may have normal ileal absorptive function in the presence of jejunal disease. Infection with cryptosporidial or isospora may however be associated with ileal dysfunction.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• 23-seleno-25-homotaurocholic acid
• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Bile Acids and Salts
• Enterohepatic Circulation
• Feces
• Glycocholic Acid
• Humans
• Ileum
• Intestinal Diseases
• Intestine, Small
• Jejunal Diseases
• Jejunum
• Taurocholic Acid
• Vitamin B 12
• physiology

Other ID:

• 00094689

UI: 102176836

From Meeting Abstracts