The Pathology of Malabsorption: Current Concepts
Histopathology 2007, 50, 64–82. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2559.2006.02547.x REVIEW The pathology of malabsorption: current concepts S R Owens & J K Greenson1 Departments of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA and 1University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA Owens S R & Greenson J K (2007) Histopathology 50, 64–82 The pathology of malabsorption: current concepts Intestinal malabsorption results from a wide variety of such as systemic sclerosis. Finally, microbial causes of causes, which can most easily be organized into three malabsorption include bacterial overgrowth, Whipple’s groups. Maldigestion arises from problems with mix- disease, and numerous infections or infestations that ing or with digestive mediators, and includes post- are most frequently seen in immunocompromised gastrectomy patients and those with deficiencies of patients. An overview of the most common and pancreatic or intestinal enzymes, or of bile salts. interesting entities in each of these categories follows, Mucosal and mural causes of malabsorption are along with a discussion of current concepts. Mucosal abundant, and include gluten-sensitive enteropathy, conditions and microbial causes of malabsorption are tropical sprue, autoimmune enteropathy, and HIV/ given special attention. AIDS-related enteropathy, as well as mural conditions Keywords: autoimmune enteropathy, bacterial overgrowth, coeliac disease, giardiasis, gluten-sensitive enteropathy, malabsorption, sprue, Whipple’s disease Abbreviations: AE, autoimmune enteropathy;
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