INTESTINAL PERMEABILITY MEASUREMENTS - A NEW APPLICATION FOR WATER-SOLUBLE CONTRAST-MEDIA

The detection and quantification of altered intestinal barrier functio n (intestinal permeability) have been addressed frequently during the last years. but the tests available for determination of intestinal pe rmeability are both flawed and have limitations. The new water-soluble roentgen contrast media (CM) of low- and iso-osmolar type have been p roposed as intestinal permeability probes. In this article this possib le new application for water-soluble CM is discussed in terms of their inherent properties and the experimental and clinical results obtaine d so far. The 2 iso-osmolar dimers, iodixanol (Visipaque) and iotrolan (Isovist), seem to be as good as the well-documented radio-labeled pe rmeability probe Cr-51-EDTA in detecting injury of the intestinal muco sal barrier The CM offer the advantage of allowing direct control of b owel wall exposure with the aid of fluoroscopy. Current permeability p robes lack this quality. Iodine-containing substances may be analyzed by the rapid, simple and reliable X-ray fluorescence technique, which is suitable for application in routine clinical practice. We conclude that the new water-soluble roentgen CM have properties which may be of use in the diagnosis and quantification of altered intestinal barrier function.