Influencing factors on the severity of clinical and laboratory manifestations of carbohydrate malabsorption syndrome in early-aged children with rotavirus infection
Authors:   Zaporizhzhia State Medical University, Ukraine, Vorobiova N.V. 
Published: January 2022

Purpose — to determine the role of the lactase gene MCM6 allelic polymorphism 13910 C/T and the concomitant food allergy (FA) and atopic dermatitis (AD) on the formation of carbohydrate malabsorption syndrome manifestations in early-aged children with rotavirus infection (RVI). Materials and methods. 60 children aged 1–24 months with RVI were examined. The determination of single nucleotide polymorphism 13910 C/T of the MCM6 gene was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction and the content of total Ig E in serum was determined by enzyme immunoassay for all children on the day of hospitalization. Total amount of carbohydrates in feces (Benedict's test) and the level of lactose in feces (Malfatti's test) were also determined in the dynamics of the disease (on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th day). The analysis of the carbohydrate malabsorption syndrome clinical and laboratory signs was carried out in subgroups depending on the genotype 13910 C/T of the MCM6 gene and concomitant allergic pathology. Results. No significant differences were found in the maximum daily frequency of diarrhea, its duration and the frequency of intestinal colic and flatulence registration in children with genotypes C/C, C/T and T/T -13910 of the MCM6 gene (p>0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the total level of carbohydrates and lactose in feces at all stages of the disease (p>0.05 on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th). Children with concomitant FA and AD had 1.3 and 2 times higher daily frequency of liquid bowel movements during the height of the disease (p<0.05 on the 5th and 7th days, respectively), 1.3 times longer diarrhea (p<0.05), 1.6 and 1.8 times higher incidence of flatulence and intestinal colic (p<0.05). These children had 3 and 3.3 times higher Benedict's test values (p<0.01), as well as 3 and 2.5 times higher Malfatti's test values (p<0.01; p<0.05, respectively) on the 3rd and 5th days of RVI, respectively, than in patients without allergies, with a gradual decrease in this difference during the period of convalescence (p>0.05 on the 10th day). Conclusions. The allelic polymorphism 13910 C/T of the MCM6 gene does not affect the degree of oligosaccharide metabolism disorders in the intestines in early-aged children with RVI. Against the background of concomitant food allergy and atopic dermatitis in children with RVI, there are more pronounced laboratory signs of carbohydrate malabsorption, and, as a consequence, diarrhea more pronounced during the height of the disease with a higher incidence of flatulence and intestinal colic. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the participating institution. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies. No conflict of interest was declared by the author. Key words: rotavirus infection, early-aged children, carbohydrate malabsorption syndrome, lactase gene polymorphism, food allergy, atopic dermatitis.