Chronic Diarrhoeas in Infancy and Childhood: I: The d-Xylose Tolerance Test

Abstract

The evaluation of the test was based on the maximal concentration obtained in the blood (after one, two and three hours) and on the urinary excretion during the first 24 hours expressed as a percentage of the ingested amount. The former constituted a better means of discrimination between normal and pathological values. In 10 patients with coeliac disease nine blood values and six urinary values were below the lower normal limit. In 25 patients with idiopathic diarrheas blood and urinary values were below the lower normal limit in seven and six cases respectively. For both groups the mean values were significantly lower than the control mean. This may suggest that the pathogenesis of idiopathic diarrheas is an absorption defect in the small intestine.