The english version of the website is under development. Wherever text appears in Greek, it means it has not been translated yet.

Δημοσίευση

Plasma citrulline levels in paediatric patients with celiac disease and the effect of a gluten-free diet.

TitlePlasma citrulline levels in paediatric patients with celiac disease and the effect of a gluten-free diet.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2011
AuthorsIoannou, H. P., Fotoulaki M., Pavlitou A., Efstratiou I., & Augoustides-Savvopoulou P.
JournalEur J Gastroenterol Hepatol
Volume23
Issue3
Pagination245-9
Date Published2011 Mar
ISSN1473-5687
KeywordsAutoantibodies, Celiac Disease, Child, Child, Preschool, Citrulline, Diet, Gluten-Free, Female, Humans, Male, Severity of Illness Index, Treatment Outcome
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Citrulline is a nonprotein amino acid synthesized in the small intestine. The aim of this study is to explore plasma citrulline levels in children with celiac disease (CD) and monitor the time-related changes of these levels after initiation of a gluten-free diet (GFD).METHODS: Fasting-plasma citrulline levels were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography in (i) 23 patients with CD before the institution of GFD, (ii) 20 patients with CD under treatment for more than 2 years responsive to a GFD, (iii) 10 children with gastrointestinal symptoms and normal small bowel biopsy, and (iv) 20 healthy controls. In group A, citrulline levels were also measured after 1, 3, 6, and 12 months on a GFD.RESULTS: Mean plasma citrulline levels were lower in untreated patients with CD (24.5±4.9) than in patients on a GFD (31.2±6.7 μmol/l, P<0.001), patients with gastrointestinal symptoms and normal intestinal mucosa (30.3±4.7 μmol/l, P<0.01), and healthy controls (32.4±7.5 μmol/l, P<0.001). In untreated patients with CD,an inverse correlation was observed between citrulline concentrations and the severity of villous atrophy (r=-0.67, P<0.01). After 1 month on a GFD, patients had significantly higher levels than before diet (P<0.05) and after 3 months on diet, levels were similar to those observed in the healthy controls.CONCLUSIONS: Plasma citrulline levels are lower in celiacs reflecting small bowel involvement in this disease. After a short period on GFD, citrulline levels increased rapidly, indicating that citrulline is a sensitive marker of the positive effect of GFD on intestinal repair.

DOI10.1097/MEG.0b013e3283438ad7
Alternate JournalEur J Gastroenterol Hepatol
PubMed ID21233715

Contact

Secretariat of the School of Medicine
 

Connect

School of Medicine's presence in social networks
Follow Us or Connect with us.