Small bowel permeability in patients with cytostatic therapy.

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of cytostatic therapy on the barrier function of the small bowel. In 16 patients with tumors in the gastrointestinal tract with metastatic involvement of the liver, small bowel permeability was measured using the lactulose/mannitol test. The patients were treated for 5 d with fluorouracil (750-1000 mg/d) and leucovorin (25-50 mg/d). The examination was performed on the first day, at the beginning of the cytostatic therapy, and also 5, 12, and 28 d after the therapy had begun. In comparing the start and the end of this therapy, the index of permeability was significantly increased (as measured 7 d after the end of therapy). These results show the damage of small bowel barrier after cytostatic therapy.