[Anatomical function of the small intestine (malabsorption syndrome) in dermatological diseases]

Fifty patients with various long lasting skin diseases were examined. Past history and digestive-nutritional symptoms were recorded. Two or three samples of distal duodenum, elimination of fecal fat and d-xylose absortion test were intended to be performed in all patients, but this coincident parameters were obtained in only 35 patients. Twenty two of these patients were classified as abnormal by 1 of the 3 investigations (62,85%), and 9 (25,71%) were abnormal by 2 criteria. In addition to these usual studies, vit B12 and folic acid absortion were tested in 12 and 23 cases respectively. Distribution does not allow for comparison of the "sensibility" of such tests with the forementioned ones. While only 2 of the 12 patients showed defective absorption of B12, 8 of 22 cases presented with defect of absorption of folic acid. Of this last group, 5 were cases of eritrodermia (the test was performed in 6 cases with this diagnosis). In the total series of 50 cases, including those not thoroughly studied, 27 (54%) presented at least with one abnormal study. These observations point to the possible frequency of intestinal absorption alterations, in several skin diseases, though of moderate degree and pertaining to variable absorption functions. They validate the prosecution of the study, with the aim of clarifying the etio-pathogenesis of some dermatological entities and trying to contribute to their therapy.