Allergic intestinal lesions: causes
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Intestines can serve as input gates for penetration into the body of various exogenous allergens (food, chemical, medicinal, parasitic, etc.). In the intestinal wall, antibodies fixed in them can be observed and antigens administered by various routes into the body (inhalation, subcutaneous, intravenous) cause the immunological process, as a result of which a variety of functional intestinal lesions occur. In other words, intestines can be a "shock" organ in which the antigen-antibody reaction develops when the organism is sensitized parenterally.
So, with serum sickness, bronchial asthma, hay fever, urticaria, Quinck's edema, drug allergy, there are violations of the functions of intestines of an allergic nature. On the other hand, inflammatory and atrophic changes in the intestinal mucosa increase the likelihood of absorption of food and drug antigens and favor secondary sensitization of the body. In this case, a decrease in production of secretory IgA, which normally prevents penetration of exoantigens through the intestinal wall, may play a role. Allergic bowel disease most often occurs with food and drug allergies, as well as on the basis of sensitization to automicroflora.
Allergic entero-and colopathy can develop again on the soil of dysbacteriosis, chronic enteritis, colitis, cholecystitis due to sensitization to automicroflora, tissue antigens, and especially often to food antigens and various food additives (preservatives, dyes, antibacterial substances, etc.).
Consequently, intestinal dysfunctions in some cases are a consequence and manifestation of a common allergosis, in others - an allergic component can be an important pathogenetic factor of the chronic pathological process in the organ of the most diverse etiology.
[