Plasma citrulline concentration: a reliable marker of small bowel absorptive capacity independent of intestinal inflammation.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

Postabsorptive plasma citrulline concentration has been proposed as a reliable marker of small bowel absorptive capacity in short bowel patients. The aim of this study was to address the potentially confounding impact of intestinal inflammation.

METHODS:

Fifty-five patients were selected according to diagnosis, small bowel length, and degree of bowel inflammation. (a) Crohn's disease (CD) with massive small bowel resection leaving </=50 cm (N = 6), (b) CD with 50-150 cm remaining (N = 9), (c) CD with no resection but active inflammation (high C-reactive protein [CRP] and Crohn's Disease Activity Index [CDAI] >220) (N = 7), (d) CD without resection or active inflammation (normal CRP and CDAI <150) (N = 9), (e) mesenteric infarction (MI) with resection leaving </=50 cm (N = 6), (f) MI leaving 50-150 cm (N = 6), (g) active celiac disease (N = 6), (h) healthy volunteers (N = 6). Postabsorptive fasting plasma citrulline was measured using reverse-phase, high performance liquid chromatography. Absorptive capacity and permeability were also measured after oral sugar-mix ingestion (5 g lactulose, 1 g L-rhamnose, 0.5 g D-xylose).

RESULTS:

The plasma citrulline strongly correlated with small bowel length (P < 0.0001) and xylose absorption (P < 0.001). No correlation was found with CDAI, permeability, CRP, albumin, sedimentation rate, white cell count, or platelet count. Citrulline was significantly higher (P < 0.0004) in CD and MI patients with a remnant small bowel length of 50-150 cm (mean 21.0 micromol/L) than in those with length </=50 cm (mean 9.2 micromol/L).

CONCLUSIONS:

Plasma citrulline concentration is a simple and reliable surrogate for small bowel absorptive capacity and is not influenced by intestinal inflammation.

• Authors: Cinzia Papadia, Roy A Sherwood, Chrysostomos Kalantzis, Katharina Wallis, Umberto Volta, Erica Fiorini, Alastair Forbes
• Journal: The American journal of gastroenterology (Am J Gastroenterol) Vol. 102 Issue 7 Pg. 1474-82 (Jul 2007) ISSN: 0002-9270 [Print] United States
• PMID: 17459021 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Albumins
• Biomarkers
• Drug Combinations
• Citrulline
• Lactulose
• C-Reactive Protein
• Xylose
• Rhamnose

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Albumins (metabolism)
• Biomarkers (blood)
• Blood Sedimentation
• C-Reactive Protein (metabolism)
• Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
• Citrulline (blood)
• Drug Combinations
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (blood, surgery, urine)
• Intestinal Absorption (physiology)
• Lactulose (administration & dosage)
• Laparotomy
• Leukocyte Count
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Platelet Count
• Prognosis
• ROC Curve
• Retrospective Studies
• Rhamnose (administration & dosage)
• Severity of Illness Index
• Xylose (administration & dosage)