[Trehalose-load test in gastroenterology].

In 35 infants trehalose-load-tests were carried out, biopsies of the intestinal mucosa of each patient were taken, and examined histologically. Furthermore, the enzyme activities of trehalase and lactase in each biopsy were determined. It was possible to demonstrate that morphology and function of the intestinal mucosa correlate differently depending on the severity of the mucosal damage. If there is only moderate mucosal damage, a rather weak correlation is seen either for the trehalose-load-test or for the disaccharidase activities with morphological changes. If damage was absent or severe, correlation improved. Both methods in comparison show a better correlation between trehalase activity and morphology than between trehalose-load-test and morphology. Furthermore, trehalase activity corroborated the histological findings better than lactase activity.