EVALUATION OF SMALL INTESTINE FUNCTION IN INFANTS WITH PERSISTENT DIARRHEA (PD) USING MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES (MAbs)

MAbs against enzymes of the brush border provide a new approach to evaluate intestinal lesions in severe PD. The 10 patients with PD in whom a small bowel biopsy was performed during 1992 were evaluated by means of MAbs for lactese (L), sucrase (S), maltsse (M) and aminopeptidase (A); results were compared with those of light mi croscopy, histochemistry lor lactase, disacchandase activities (Dalqvist) and clinical history. Diagnosis was DP and severe malnutrition (MN) in 4 cases, congenital sucrose intolerance (CSI) 1, cow's milk protein intolerance (CMI) 2, celiac disease (CD) 1, sIgA deficiency 1 and cryptosporidias is (Crypt) 1. The latter was the only child with a positive ethiologic study. MAP ofr sucrase detected more enzyme than Dalqvist, which may be interpreted as tht MAP binds non-functional molecules. In patient with CSI, MAP for sucase detedted less enzyme than Dalqvist, which is in agreement with the production of a defective molecule.