title: Rectal manifestations of pellagra.
abstract: Twenty (44%) of 45 patients with cutaneous pellagra had diarrhoea. Inflammation was seen on sigmoidoscopy in 42 and was severe in 5 (11%), moderate in 4 (9%) and mild in 33 (73%). Six patients (13%) had perianal excoriation. Rectal biopsies taken in all cases showed extensive ulceration in 1 case, moderate to severe inflammation in 16 (36%) and mild inflammation in 18 (40%). Minimal oedema of the lamina propria was seen in 11 (24%) patients. At 5 to 7 days after starting vitamin treatment in nine cases histological changes had returned to normal in 4, improved in 3 and had not changed in 2. Diarrhoea stopped within a week in all cases.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003092:Colitis / Q000628:therapy; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010383:Pellagra / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014815:Vitamins