Intestinal Permeability to [51Cr]EDTA in Children with Cystic Fibrosis

Abstract
Intestimal permeability was investigated in 14 children with cystic fibrosis making use of [51 Cr] EDTA as probe molecule. Ten normal young adults and 11 children served as controls. After oral administration of [51Cr]-EDTA, 24 h urine was collected. Urinary radioactivity was calculated and results expressed as percentage of oral dose excreted in 24 h urine. Mean and SEM were as follows: 2.51 .+-. 0.21, 2.35 .+-. 0.24, and 13.19 .+-. 1.72 for control children, normal adults, and cystic fibrosis patients, respectively. The permeability differences between cystic fibrosis patients and either control children or control adults are significant (p < 0.001).