Small Intestinal Absorptive Function in Regional Enteritis

Small bowel absorptive function was investigated in 65 patients with regional enteritis in an effort to relate this to extent of disease or resection. Twenty-six patients had no surgery, 7 had been operated upon without recurrence, 22 had significant recurrence after resection, and 10 were suffering from a markedly shortened bowel. There was a close correlation between length of resected or diseased ileum and vitamin B₁₂ and fat malabsorption. When the length of ileal dysfunction exceeded 90 cm, Schilling test was abnormal in 13 of 13 patients and steatorrhea became more marked. Patients with resection and postoperative recurrence had significantly lower fat and B₁₂ absorption than those with disease and no surgery, reflecting the greater length of ileal dysfunction in the surgically treated group. Jejunal function as measured by D-xylose absorption was preserved in most patients.