The absorption of antibiotics in adult patients with coeliac disease

Abstract

At the present time there has been little systematic study of the absorption of antibiotics in patients with coeliac disease. The physiological changes in this condition are complex and exert a multifactorial effect upon the absorption of both nutrients and drugs. The results of studies of the absorption of amoxycillin, ampicillin, cephalexin, clindamycin, two salts of erythromycin, fucidin, lincornycin, pivaxnpicillin, rifampicin, suiphamethoxazole and trimethoprini are discussed. Four main patterns of antibiotic absorption occur in coeliac disease. Increased, impaired, delayed and normal absorption of these antibiotics have been demonstrated. The reason for these abnormalities is discussed.