II. Intestinal absorption of an amino-acid mixture in patients with chronic idiopathic ulcerative colitis and entero-colitis

Abstract

1. Absorption of an enzymatic hydrolysate of casein from closed upper jejunal loops was studied in five patients with severe and chronic idiopathic ulcerative colitis or entero-colitis. 2. In four patients there was marked impairment of absorption as compared with normal individuals. In the remaining patient, whose general nutrition was well maintained in spite of chronic disease of the large bowel, small intestinal absorption, as determined by the test mixture used, was found to be normal. 3. The nature and mechanism of this dysfunction of the small intestine is discussed, and its significance in contributing to the picture of a deficiency state is emphasized. 4. Such a defect in small intestinal function, when added to the well established gross involvement of the colon and terminal ileum, enlarges our concept of chronic idiopathic ulcerative colitis and ileo-colitis to a disorder embracing the entire intestinal tract.