OBJECTIVES: A primary defect of the tight junctions and, hence, increased intestinal
epithelial permeability has been proposed as a basic pathogenic event in Crohn's disease.
Challenge of the mucosal immune system by the commensal gut flora would then result in
chronic inflammation. Alternatively, increased permeability could be the result of
inflammation. Our aim was to study intestinal permeability in refractory Crohn's disease
before and after treatment with monoclonal chimeric antibodies directed against tumor …