Valor de la citrulina plasmática como biomarcador de función intestinal en el síndrome de intestino corto y en el trasplante intestinal / Plasma citrulline concentration as a biomarker of intestinal function in short bowel syndrome and in intestinal transplant

Introducción: La citrulina es un aminoácido producido exclusivamente por los enterocitos. Se estudió su valor como biomarcador de masa enterocitaria funcionante en pacientes con fracaso intestinal por síndrome de intestino corto (SIC) y su relación con la tolerancia digestiva. Material y métodos: Se determinó la concentración plasmática de citrulina por cromatografía líquida de alta resolución (normal > 15 μmol/L) en 57 pacientes (edad 0, 5-18 años) con fracaso intestinal en distintas situaciones evolutivas. Fueron excluidos pacientes deshidratados, con insuficiencia renal u otras situaciones que pudieran alterar los resultados. Se clasificaron en grupos: I : SIC extremo dependientes de nutrición parenteral (NP); II : SIC en alimentación mixta enteral-parenteral; III : SIC adaptados y autónomos sin NP; IV : trasplantados y autónomos sin NP. Resultados: Los valores medios ± DE de citrulina plasmática fueron: grupo I (n = 15): 7,1 ± 4,1; grupo II (n = 11): 15,8 ± 8,9; grupo III (n = 13): 20,6 ± 7,5; grupo IV (n = 25): 28,8 ± 10,1. Los valores resultaron inferiores en el grupo I comparados con los grupos II - III - IV (p < 0,001) y en el grupo II comparados con los grupos III - IV (p < 0,001). Se observó una fuerte correlación entre la citrulinemia y la longitud del intestino delgado remanente (r = 0,85; p < 0,001). En el grupo IV la citrulina descendió > 50% coincidiendo con rechazo moderado-severo en 3 pacientes y con enteritis viral en un paciente. Conclusiones: 1. La citrulina plasmática puede ser un biomarcador sensible y específico del intestino funcional residual. 2. Se relaciona con la tolerancia a la alimentación enteral. 3. Debe confirmarse su valor pronóstico en el proceso de adaptación intestinal y como marcador de rechazo en pacientes trasplantados (AU)

Introduction: Citrulline is a non-essential amino acid produced solely in the enterocyte. The aim of this study was to analyse the role of serum citrulline as a biomarker of enterocyte load in children with intestinal failure due to short bowel syndrome (SBS) and its relationship to enteral adaptation. Material and methods: Plasma citrulline concentration was determined by chromatography (normal value > 15 mol/L) in 57 patients (age 0.5-18 years) admitted to our Intestinal Rehabilitation Unit with intestinal failure. Those who were dehydrated, with renal insufficiency, or other conditions able to modify the results were excluded. Patients were divided into 4 groups: group I: SBS totally dependent on parenteral nutrition (PN); group II: SBS under mixed enteral parenteral nutrition; group III: IF weaned from PN after a rehabilitation period; group IV: small bowel transplanted patients weaned from PN and taking a normal diet. Results: The mean ± SD plasma citrulline values were: group I (n = 15): 7.1±4.1; group II (n = 11): 15.8±8.9; group III (n = 13): 20.6±7.5; group IV (n = 25): 28.8±10.1. Values were significantly lower in group I in comparison with groups II-III-IV (P <0 .001), and in group II in comparison with groups III-IV (P < 0.001). A low citrulline was associated with remnant small bowel length (P < 0.001, r = 0.85). In group IV citrulline levels decreased > 50% in 3 patients who developed moderates ever e rejection, and in one patient who developed viral enteritis. Conclusions: 1. Plasma citrulline could be a sensitive and specific biomarker of the residual functional enterocyte load. 2. It is related to enteral feeding tolerance. 3. Its prognostic value in the process of intestinal adaptation and as a rejection marker in small bowel transplanted patients needs to be confirmed (AU)

[Plasma citrulline concentration as a biomarker of intestinal function in short bowel syndrome and in intestinal transplant]. / Valor de la citrulina plasmática como biomarcador de función intestinal en el síndrome de intestino corto y en el trasplante intestinal.

INTRODUCTION: Citrulline is a non-essential amino acid produced solely in the enterocyte. The aim of this study was to analyse the role of serum citrulline as a biomarker of enterocyte load in children with intestinal failure due to short bowel syndrome (SBS) and its relationship to enteral adaptation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Plasma citrulline concentration was determined by chromatography (normal value>15 µmol/L) in 57 patients (age 0.5-18 years) admitted to our Intestinal Rehabilitation Unit with intestinal failure. Those who were dehydrated, with renal insufficiency, or other conditions able to modify the results were excluded. Patients were divided into 4 groups: group i: SBS totally dependent on parenteral nutrition (PN); group ii: SBS under mixed enteral-parenteral nutrition; group iii: IF weaned from PN after a rehabilitation period; group iv: small bowel transplanted patients weaned from PN and taking a normal diet. RESULTS: The mean ± SD plasma citrulline values were: group i (n=15): 7.1 ± 4.1; group ii (n=11): 15.8 ± 8.9; group iii (n=13): 20.6 ± 7.5; group iv (n=25): 28.8 ± 10.1. Values were significantly lower in group i in comparison with groups ii-iii-iv (P<.001), and in group ii in comparison with groups iii-iv (P<.001). A low citrulline was associated with remnant small bowel length (P<.001, r=0.85). In group iv citrulline levels decreased >50% in 3 patients who developed moderate-severe rejection, and in one patient who developed viral enteritis. CONCLUSIONS: 1. Plasma citrulline could be a sensitive and specific biomarker of the residual functional enterocyte load. 2. It is related to enteral feeding tolerance. 3. Its prognostic value in the process of intestinal adaptation and as a rejection marker in small bowel transplanted patients needs to be confirmed.

[Amino acid changes in blood of children with severe liver disease. The evaluation of differences according to distinct physiopathology]. / Alteraciones de los aminoácidos en sangre en niños con enfermedad hepática severa. Valoración de las diferencias en relación a la distinta fisiopatología.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to know the serum amino acid profiles in children with terminal hepatic diseases and to assess the differences between the two main physiopathological groups of hepatic damage: cholestasis and cellular necrosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied twenty-six pediatric patients with severe hepatic diseases admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Patients were divided into two groups according to the predominant hepatic lesion: cellular damage (fourteen children) and cholestasis damage (twelve cases). RESULTS: Overall, there is a significant increase in the aromatic amino acids (AAA) phenylalanine (p < 0.04) and tyrosine (p < 0.0003) and a decrease in the branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) leucine, isoleucine and valine (p < 0.00001), with a reduction in the BCAA/AAA ratio (p < 0.00001). However, we found a significant decrease in glutamine, cysteine, taurine, serine, threonine, tryptophan, total amino acids and essential amino acids, together with higher levels of glutamic acid, ornithine and citrulline, which reflects a more complex metabolic disturbance. The group with cholestatic damage shows very low taurine levels (p < 0.0003). Patients with predominantly cellular damage have higher increases in tyrosine (p < 0.01), phenylalanine and hydroxyproline (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: These findings may help us to better understand the complex physiopathology of amino acid metabolism in different liver diseases. Moreover, the extremely low levels of taurine found prompted us to recommend additional dietary support particularly in children with cholestatic hepatopathy.