Effect of Intragastric Glucose-Electrolyte Infusion Upon Water and Electrolyte Balance in Asiatic Cholera

Abstract

The present study was desgnged to determine whether intestinal glucose absorption occurs in cholera patients and if so whether intragastric infusion of a glucose-electrolyte solution would alter cholera stool production or composition. 14 adult males with severe diarrhea and bacteriologically proven cholera were studied. When the glucose solution was administered intragastrically only 2 of 14 cases showed glucose in stool thus demonstrating the active nature of glucose absorption in cholera. Since glucose absorption remains intact in cholera significant absorptive function remains in the small bowel site of cholera stool formation. Various recipes of the glucose solution were tested. When glucose concentration and osmolarity were increased from 40-160 mM/liter and from 274-380 mosmol/liter respectively rate of intragastric infusion was halved while approximate balance with stool losses was maintained. Increasing glucose still further to 220 mM/liter concentration and 421 mosmol osmolarity did not further enhance the effect i.e. did not allow a further reduction in the infusion rate required to maintain balance.