Jejunal Biopsy Findings, Mucosal Dehydrogenase Activity, and Intestinal Absorption in Patients with Complications after Partial Gastrectomies

Abstract

Twenty-eight jejunal biopsies from eight women and twenty men with complications after partial gas-trectomies were obtained with a Crosby-Kugler’s capsule 70-80 cm from the teeth.

Most of the cases showed leaf-shaped villi by dissecting microscopy and branched and fused villi in the corresponding histological sections. Many of these subjects also disclosed a decreased dehydrogenase activity and an impaired absorption of D-xylose and vitamin A.

It is concluded that the moderate mucosal abnormalities observed in jejunal biopsies from patients with partial gastrectomies may partly cause the malabsorption frequently found in these cases.

Index-words::

• Jejunum
• stomach
• biopsy
• enzyme tests
• histochemistry
• gastrectomy
• enzymes
• histology
• intestinal absorption