Abstract
BackgroundAn altered intestinal mucosal barrier has been demonstrated in subsets of patients with IBS and FAP and may be an additional biological factor contributing to symptom generation in children with FD. The objective of this study was to determine if intestinal permeability is increased in children/adolescents with functional dyspepsia (FD) and whether intestinal permeability is correlated with mucosal inflammation and/or symptoms of anxiety or depression in this population.MethodsA sugar absorption test was performed in 19 patients with FD and 19 controls. Anxiety and depression were assessed in both groups utilizing a standard questionnaire. In FD patients, duodenal mean and peak mast cell and eosinophil densities were determined.ResultsIntestinal permeability as measured by the sugar absorption test did not differ between children with FD and controls. In children with FD, there was no correlation between permeability and mast cell density, eosinophil density, anxiety scores, or depression scores, respectively.ConclusionsPediatric FD does not appear to be associated with increased small bowel intestinal permeability, however, there are some limitations to the current study.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov; NCT00363597.
Highlights
An altered intestinal mucosal barrier has been demonstrated in subsets of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and functional abdominal pain (FAP) and may be an additional biological factor contributing to symptom generation in children with functional dyspepsia (FD)
There were no significant correlations between lactulose/mannitol ratio (L/M) and mast cell or eosinophil densities
There were no significant correlations between L/M and scores on the anxiety or depression subscales based on parent- or self-report
Summary
The objective of this study was to determine if intestinal permeability is increased in children/adolescents with functional dyspepsia (FD) and whether intestinal permeability is correlated with mucosal inflammation and/or symptoms of anxiety or depression in this population. Recurrent abdominal pain is a common complaint among school-age children, being present in 13 to 17% at any given time [1]. It represents the most common chronic pain entity in pediatric patients. As established by Rome III, there are four FGIDs related to abdominal pain in children including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), functional dyspepsia (FD), abdominal migraines, and functional abdominal pain (FAP) [4]. FD, alone or in combination with irritable bowel syndrome, is present in 45-87% of children/adolescents
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