P226 Evaluation of intestinal permeability on the basis of zonulin levels, in children with inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

Introduction. Non-specific inflammatory bowel disease in children is often associated with other autoimmune disorders, additionally abdominal pain, weight loss and growth disturbance occur in celiac disease and food allergies. In the pathogenesis of these diseases the impact of increased intestinal permeability is considered. The aim of the study is an assessment of an incidence of celiac disease and food allergy in children with inflammatory bowel disease and determination of their correlation with serum zonulin levels. Materials and methods. The analysis included 71 children in age from 4 to 18 years with the active form of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. The control group consisted of 32 children in the same age range without gastrointestinal symptoms. In the group of examined children immunological tests were performed to diagnose celiac disease and food allergy. In all children, quantitative determination of the zonulin in the serum was made. Results. In the examined group of patients with inflammatory bowel disease celiac disease has not occurred, while in the case of atopic increased zonulin levels and significantly positive correlation between serum zonulin levels and total IgE was found. Conclusions. Increased zonulin levels among children with atopic in the course of inflammatory bowel disease confirm its use as a serum biomarker of intestinal permeability. In the future, measurement of its levels among children with inflammatory bowel disease may also be one of non-invasive tests used in practice in the evaluation of the intestinal mucosa.