Published online Mar 25, 1996. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v2.i1.13
Revised: November 18, 1995
Accepted: December 31, 1995
Published online: March 25, 1996
AIM: To study the grading of pixu (spleen deficiency) syndrome and the scientific basis of its relationship with absorption of D-xylose and BT-PABA.
METHODS: The present study included 115 cases of chronic superficial gastritis, 15 cases of chronic atrophic gastritis, 19 cases of peptic ulcer, and 34 cases of chronic colitis. All cases were diagnosed by endoscopy and biopsies. Chronic gastrointestinal diseases were categorized into the following six types: spleen and stomach asthenia syndrome (including asthenia and cold); disharmony between liver and stomach; damp and heat of spleen and stomach (bowel) syndrome; spleen-stomach-yin deficiency; blood stasis; and spleen-kidney-yang deficiency. Grading of these syndromes were made with concomitant estimation of D-xylose and BT-PABA tests.
RESULTS: Compared with healthy controls, the patients with chronic gastrointestinal diseases showed diminished urinary level of D-xylose and of BT-PABA (P < 0.05), with the exception of those with damp and heat of spleen-bowel syndrome. The excretory rate of D-xylose was nearly normal, while the levels of D-xylose and BT-PABA were lower than in the healthy controls (P < 0.05-0.01). In regard to the grading of spleen deficiency and the disharmony between liver and stomach syndromes, the excretory rate of D-xylose decreased gradually (P < 0.01) as the severity of symptoms increased; in patients with disharmony between liver and stomach syndrome, the excretory rate of BT-PABA also decreased (P < 0.01) as symptoms worsened. These data provide scientific evidence for appraisal of the pathophysiology of these syndromes.
CONCLUSION: Changes of D-xylose can reflect the specificity of pixu syndrome, whereas changes of BT-PABA can reflect the specificity of disharmony between liver and stomach syndrome.