Mucosal permeability of ileal and colonic reservoirs for urine.

Objectives: To evaluate the intestinal mucosal permeability in continent reservoirs for urine.
Patients and Methods: The mucosal permeability in continent urinary reservoirs, constructed either from an ileal or a colonic segment (six patients each), was assessed by analysing serial samples of plasma, after instilling the reservoir with 51Cr-ethylene diaminetetra-acetic acid (51Cr-EDTA), and serum, after instillation with polyethylene glycol (PEG 400).
Results: There was no or negligible permeation of 51Cr-EDTA and PEG 400 in either type of reservoir, as there was no significant increase of the markers in plasma and serum, respectively.
Conclusion: The intestinal barrier to medium-sized hydrophilic molecules seems intact in continent urinary reservoirs. The lack of significant permeation of 51Cr-EDTA confirms the usefulness of a single injection of 51Cr-EDTA for the determination of glomerular filtration rate in patients with intestinal urinary diversion.