ABSTRACT
The possible beneficial effects and changes in the histology of the duodenojejunal and colonic mucosa brought about by oral bacterial therapy were studied in 60 elderly patients (mean age +/- SD: 76.6 +/- 5.3 years) with bowel disorders mainly represented by diarrhea accompanied by abdominal pain and meteorism. All patients were submitted to a 7-day washout followed by treatment with 6 capsules daily, each capsule containing live, lyophilized Lactobacillus acidophilus (10(9) CFU/ml). The clinical course was observed in 50 patients while the remaining 10 were hospitalized and submitted to esophago-gastro-duodenoscopy and colonoscopy both before and after treatment for withdrawal of duodenal secretion and fragments of duodenojejunal and colonic mucosa biopsies. Duodenal secretion was examined bacteriologically, and after treatment an increase of the anaerobic flora at the expense of the aerobic one was found together with improved quality of the former. Histologic examination showed reduction of the inflammatory infiltration by lymphocytes and plasma cells and increased muciparous activity of the glands. Clinically, a marked improvement of the symptoms was observed in all 60 patients.
