[Effects of enteral nutrition on intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes of intestinal mucosal and the barrier of mucus in patients with stomal type enteric fistula].

Objective: To investigate the effects of enteral nutrition on intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes and the barrier of mucus in patients with stomal type enteric fistulas.

Methods: Ten patients with stomal type enteric fistulas after long-term fasting were observed. They received enteral nutrition of 146 kJ.kg(-1).d(-1) non-protein calorie and 0.25 g.kg(-1).d(-1) nitrogen per day. Intestinal mucosa were taken by endoscope through stoma of fistula before, 5 and 10 days after enteral nutrition support. Hematoxylin-eosin stain and immunohistochemical stain were performed to count the cell counts of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (iIELs) and mucin-2 (MUC2) positive cells, specific stain (Alcian Blue) was performed to test the thickness of mucus.

Results: Five days after enteral nutrition, MUC2 positive cells and the thickness of mucus were significantly higher than that before enteral nutrition support (P<0.05). Ten days after enteral nutrition, iIEL cell and CD8 counts were also significantly higher than that before enteral nutrition support (P<0.05), MUC2 positive cells and the thickness of mucus showed a significant increase (P<0.01).

Conclusion: Enteral nutrition is effective in protecting the gut mucosal and improving the immune function of the intestinal intraepithelial in patients with stomal type fistula.