Steatorrhea Induced by Para-aminosalicylic Acid

SUMMARY

The effects of abnormally high (12 g) and normal (6 g) daily doses of para-aminosalicylic acid (PAS) recrystallized with ascorbic acid (PAS-C) on absorptive function was investigated in seven healthy volunteer subjects. Oral administration of 12 g/day of PAS-C for 4 weeks induced moderate steatorrhea, without diarrhea, in all seven subjects. Six grams per day of PAS-C failed to produqce malabsorption of fats. The drug exhibited no direct toxic effect on intestinal epithelium, as determined by light microscopy. Jejunal mucosal biopsies performed before, during, and after PAS-C administration, at either 6- or 12-g daily doses, showed no alterations in the normal histology. The degree of steatorrhea did not appear to account entirely for the diminished cholesterol concentrations observed during PAS-C therapy. The data indicate that PAS-C, at the 12-g daily dosage, represents another model for investigation of reversible drug-induced malabsorption in man. In contrast, PAS-C in the doses generally recommended did not induce changes in absorptive function.