Gastro-intestinal permeability is increased in patients with limited systemic sclerosis

Objective: to evaluate gastro-intestinal (GI) permeability in patients with limited systemic sclerosis (LSS) at baseline and after oral acetylsalicyli c acid (ASA). Methods: 13 patients with LSS and 10 controls were studied. Baseline GI per meability was assessed with orally administered sucrose, mannitol, and lact ulose. Gastric lesions and Helicobacter status were investigated by endosco py. In 5 patients and 6 controls (with normal baseline permeability) the GI permeability response was assessed after oral ASA. Results: compared with controls, gastric (p<0.05) and intestinal (p<0.02) p ermeability was higher in LSS patients, at baseline. After oral ASA gastric permeability (sucrose) increased in both groups (controls: 186%. LSS: 265% ), whereas the lactulose/mannitol ratio raised significantly only in LSS (31% and + 148%; p<0.05 vs controls). Conclusions: baseline permeability is altered in LSS; the exaggerated respo nse of the small intestine to ASA may represent a genetically determined or a disease-related dysfunction of the mucosal barrier.