Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
5
pubmed:dateCreated
1987-5-26
pubmed:abstractText
Recently, we noted that substantial numbers of critically ill patients admitted to a medical ICU developed diarrhea. We checked them for infectious, metabolic, and untoward medication effects, which were negative. We next considered a possible causal relation between reduced serum albumin and diarrhea. To document the frequency of diarrhea in this population, explore the relation between hypoalbuminemia and diarrhea, and make a preliminary assessment of a peptide-based, chemically defined diet in these catabolic patients, a study of consecutive medical ICU patients was begun. For each patient, we recorded the principal diagnosis, type of diet received, the frequency and volume of stool, and the serum albumin concentration at admission. When diarrhea developed, attention was paid to the serum albumin levels as well as the effects of various diets. Overall, 12 (34%) of 35 study patients developed diarrhea. No patient had a previous history of diarrhea, malabsorption, weight loss, or GI symptoms that may precede the onset of diarrhea. The stools from each patient with diarrhea were examined for enteric pathogens, ova and parasites, Clostridium difficile culture and cytotoxin assay, and qualitative stool fat, which were all negative. Every patient with a serum albumin level less than 2.6 g/dl developed diarrhea. No patient with a serum albumin level of 2.6 g/dl or greater developed diarrhea, regardless of the type of nutritional support received. Four of the 12 patients with hypoalbuminemia and diarrhea were placed on a peptide-based, chemically defined diet, after which their diarrhea resolved and their serum albumin concentrations increased.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
May
pubmed:issn
0090-3493
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
15
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
506-9
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1987
pubmed:articleTitle
Hypoalbuminemia as an indicator of diarrheal incidence in critically ill patients.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article