[Diagnostic and therapeutic problems posed by 2 cases of exudative enteropathy]

The authors report two cases of exsudative enteropathy characterised by the existence of oedema of the lower limbs associated with hypoproteinemia and marked lymphopenia with disturbances of the P.V.P. test. In both cases lymphography demonstrated major abnormalities with obvious obstruction in one case, and signs of slowing of lymph flow with appearances of dysplasia in the other. Surgery permitted us in one case, to discover a calcified lymph node probably due to tuberculosis. The etiology of these cases is discussed and seems to be mainly related to abnormalities of the lymphatic system. A low fat diet and administration of medium-chain triglycerides, gave an undoubted improvement when the treatment was followed by the patient. These two cases illustrate well the difficult diagnostic and therapeutic problems sometimes raised by syndromes of exsudative enteropathy, in particular owing to the many possible causes.