Study of peroral colonic and peritoneal absorption in normal and pathological conditions using a dye.

EDITORIAL SYNOPSIS The urinary excretion of phenol red was measured over a four-hour period following the administration of a dose of the dye by mouth, by enema, and by intraperitoneal injection. The authors used this as a test of absorption from the small intestine, colon, and peritoneum respectively. Absorption from all three sites was impaired in cirrhotics in proportion to the severity of the liver damage. Intraperitoneal absorption was grossly impaired in local diseases of the peritoneum, and colonic absorption was impaired in colitis.