[Value of the intestinal permeability test with lactulose-mannitol for screening and monitoring of celiac disease in children].

An intestinal permeability test (IPT) analysing the mannitol (M) and lactulose (L) clearances and the L/M ratios was performed in 15 children followed for celiac disease, before the onset of exclusion diet, during the gluten-free diet and after the reintroduction of gluten. The results showed a significant increase of the L/M ratios under normal diet, with respect to a control population. This increase was related to an increased L urinary excretion and to a decrease in M excretion. During gluten-free diet a normalization of the L/M ratios was observed. Reintroducing gluten altered the L/M ratios by increasing the L intestinal permeability and decreasing the M intestinal permeability. This study shows the value of the non invasive L/M IPT for the screening and monitoring of celiac disease in children.