Evaluation of intestinal permeability and gluten sensitivity in Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers with familial protein-losing enteropathy, protein-losingnephropathy, or both

Objective-To evaluate intestinal permeability and gluten sensitivity in a f amily of Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers (SCWT) affected with protein-losing e nteropathy (PLE), protein-losing nephropathy (PLN), or both. Animals-6 affected adult dogs. Procedure-intestinal biopsy specimens, urine protein-to-creatinine ratio, s erum concentrations of albumin and globulin, and concentration of al-protea se inhibitor in feces were evaluated before, during, and 13 weeks after dai ly administration of 10 g of gluten for 7 weeks. Eosinophils and lymphocyte s-plasmacytes were enumerated in intestinal biopsy specimens. Intestinal pe rmeability was evaluated before and during the sixth week of gluten adminis tration via cellobiose-mannitol and chromium-EDTA absorption tests. Results-Serum globulin concentration decreased significantly after prolonge d administration of gluten. Although not significant, there was an increase in lymphocytes-plasmacytes and a decrease in eosinophils in intestinal bio psy specimens. Furthermore, these counts were greater than those reported f or clinically normal dogs. Gluten administration did not increase intestina l permeability. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Daily administration of gluten was assoc iated with a significant decrease in serum globulin concentration in SCWT a ffected with PLE or PLN, but other variables remained unchanged. Although e nhanced wheat-gluten sensitivity may be one factor involved in the pathogen esis of PLE or PLN in SCWT, this syndrome does not appear to be the result of a specific sensitivity to gluten.