title: Jejunal function and pathology in visceral Leishmaniasis.
abstract: Small-intestinal function was studied in 10 patients with visceral leishmaniasis. Vitamin-A absorption was impaired in 7 and d-xylose in 1. In 5 of the 10 patients Leishmania were demonstrated in biopsy specimens of intestinal mucosa. Parasitised macrophages were present in villous tips and less commonly in the lamina propria and submucosa; a moderate inflammatory infiltrate was composed of lymphocytes and plasma cells. 2 patients had partial villous atrophy. There was no correlation between intensity of parasitisation and severity of malabsorption. After treatment with sodium stibogluconate there was a significant improvement in absorption of vitamin A and d-xylose, and biopsy specimens became normal. In 1 patient visceral leishmaniasis was thought to be the cause of chronic diarrhoea.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D007583:Jejunum / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007898:Leishmaniasis, Visceral / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000378:metabolism; D014994:Xylose / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A; D014994:Xylose; D000967:Antimony Sodium Gluconate