The enterocyte height & number in children with protracted diarrhoea
Bhan, M.K.; Khoshoo, V.; Phillips, A.D.; Smith, J.A.; Mathur, M.
Indian Journal of Medical Research 88: 525-529
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5340 PMID: 3243614 Document Number: 360994
The mean enterocyte height (EH) in normally nourished children was 31+or-2.7 micro m. There was a significant reduction in the mean EH in children with protracted diarrhoea of different aetiologies viz. enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (20.9+or-2.6); Salmonella typhimurium (26.6+or-1.9); Giardia lamblia (21.3+or-4); secondary lactose intolerance (25.6+or-5.3); and coeliac disease (untreated: 15.5+or-2.6; 12 months off gluten: 25.1+or-4.0; and 15 to 20 days after challenge: 24.4+or-4.4). The lowered EH in children with coeliac disease off gluten did not change significantly after 15 to 20 days of gluten challenge. The number of enterocytes per cmsuperscript 2 of the epithelium in the different groups of patients and controls did not show significant differences.