Urinary Excretion of 5-Hydroxyindolacetic Acid in Diarrheal States, with Special Reference to Nontropical Sprue

Recent Research in the Field of 5-Hydroxytryptamine and Related Indolealkylamines

“…No significant changes in blood 5-HT levels and/or in urinary excretion of 5-HIAA could be demonstrated in patients with gastric or duodenal ulcer [1081,1077,655], gastric carcinoma [1081], gastric achlorhydria [182], diarrhoea due to irritable colon, ulcerative colitis, regional enteritis and pancreatic disease [1081,678], nor in patients recently operated for partial resection of the stomach [1081].…”

“…It is possible that the increased excretion of 5-HIAA in active non-tropical sprue reflects a defect in the metabolism of tryptophan [678].…”

Enterochromaffin cells in the duodenal mucosa of children with coeliac disease.

“…Increased urinary excretion of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), a metabolite of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), has been reported in both adults and children with untreated coeliac disease (Haverback and Davidson, 1958;Kowlessar et al, 1958;Haverback et al, 1960;Pimparker et al, 1961;Scriver, 1961;Sleisenger, 1961;Kowlessar et al, 1964;Benson et al, 1964;Challacombe et al, 1972;Challacombe et al, 1975). Clinical recovery after the introduction of a gluten-free diet is accompanied by a fall in urinary 5-HIAA (Sleisenger, 1961;Benson et al, 1964;Kowlessar et al, 1964;Challacombe et al, 1972).…”

Abnormal Tryptophan Metabolism in Patients with Adult Celiac Disease, with Evidence for Deficiency of Vitamin B6*

“…The mean excretion during the first 8- The previously reported elevated base-line levels of urinary 5HIAA and IAA and indican in the untreated and treated symptomatic adult celiac patients have been confirmed in these studies (12,13). It is of great interest that the patients on the gluten-free diet who are still having steatorrhea continue to excrete these substances abnormally.…”