GASTRO-INTESTINAL STUDIES. VII. THE EXCRETION OF XYLOSE IN PERNICIOUS ANEMIA

Abstract

The excretion of xylose in urine following the oral administration of 25 gm. of xylose was studied in 8 normal individuals, 48 patients having pernicious anemia, and 3 other patients having blood pictures similar to pernicious anemia. The normal individuals, in 5 hrs., excreted an avg. of 4.68 gm. The kidney function of the pernicious anemia patients markedly influenced the excretion of xylose. There was a progressive increase in av. secretion of xylose with increases in the urea clearance. The 28 patients having normal urea clearance, however, excreted 4.72 g. of xylose in 5 hrs. The blood xylose curves were studied in addition to urine xylose in 14 pernicious anemia patients and in 2 of the other patients. Although no constant abnormality in absorption of xylose could be demonstrated in patients having pernicious anemia, differences in absorption from the gastro-intestinal tract can be demonstrated even though these differences seemed to have little or no relationship to the amount of orally administered liver extract required to maintain a normal red blood cell count. The 3 patients having blood pictures similar to pernicious anemia, but having free HC1 in their gastric contents, had markedly decreased absorption of xylose.