Jejunal biopsy studies in malnutrition

ABSTRACT

A modified paediatric Watson biopsy capsule was used to take peroral biopsies of the jejunal mucosa from 10 malnourished Jamaican children. Biopsies were taken after admission and again prior to discharge several months later. These biopsies have been compared by dissecting microscopic and histological studies, and by estimation of the mucosal disaccharidase activities. On admission the mucosa showed varying degrees of abnormality and frequently had a decrease of all the disaccharidase activity levels. When a gross abnormality was present there was a definite improvement in the mucosal appearance after clinical recovery these changes were associated with a rise in the disaccharidase levels(AU)