Intestinal permeability and liver disease

Increased intestinal permeability has for many years been implicated as a p ossible contributory factor in the development of encephalopathy and sponta neous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) seen in patients with cirrhosis, The majo rity of studies indicate that there is an increase in small intestinal perm eability in cirrhotic patients and there is also evidence of an increase in patients with acute liver failure. The cause of these changes is unknown a nd whether they are related to the development of SEP and encephalopathy is unclear. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 11:401-403 (C) 1999 Lippincott Willia ms & Wilkins.