The small bowel flora in individuals with cecoileal reflux

BACKGROUND: The observation of cecoileal reflux to barium enema is not rare; however, its causes and consequences have not been widely investigated. Considering that ileocecal junction exerts a function as barrier to invasion of bacteria from colon to small bowel, it seems interesting to study the intestinal microflora in subjects carrying cecoileal reflux. AIMS: This study aims at evaluating the ileal flora in individuals with cecoileal reflux. METHODS: A group of 36 subjects comprising 30 females and 6 males with a mean age of 54 years was assessed. Twenty-five individuals with cecoileal reflux and 11 without cecoileal reflux were submitted to small intestine contamination evaluation through the breath test with lactulose-H2 and measurement of the orocecal transit time by means of alternate current biosusceptometry. Small intestine bacterial overgrowth was characterized by orocecal transit time-H2 shortening. RESULTS: Comparison of basal H2, orocecal transit time-H2 and orocecal transit time-alternate current biosusceptometry measurements did not statistically differ between the groups with and without cecoileal reflux. Orocecal transit time-H2 was significantly smaller than orocecal transit time-alternate current biosusceptometry, particularly in individuals with cecoileal reflux. A significant correlation between the two methods was observed only in relation to control, not existing in relation to cecoileal reflux group. CONCLUSIONS: Smaller orocecal transit time-H2 and the loss of correlation with orocecal transit time-alternate current biosusceptometry observed in the individuals with cecoileal reflux suggest a differentiated behavior for such group relative to control, which could be associated with small intestine bacterial overgrowth.