Acute yersinia infections in man increase intestinal permeability for low-molecular weight polyethylene glycols (PEG 400).

The passive intestinal permeability of patients with acute diarrhoea was investigated with a liquid meal of oral rehydration fluid containing differently sized, low-molecular weight polyethylene glycols (PEG 400). The recovery of test molecules was measured in 6 h specimens of urine. The subjects suffered from acute infections caused by yersinia bacteria accompanied by joint pains. They were investigated during the infection and at least 3-4 weeks later when they had recovered clinically. It was found that yersinia infections were associated with increased urinary recovery of PEG molecules, and with reduced restriction towards the larger PEG molecules. After the infection, the resorption of PEGs returned towards normal. Thus, the altered restriction of the gut wall towards the passage of probe molecules might help to explain the extraintestinal manifestations often seen in connection with these agents.