[Manifestations of systemic diseases in the gastrointestinal tract]

Under the aspect of systemic diseases and their manifestation in the gut the following conclusions can be drawn: 1. The skin is the mirror of the intestinal tract; not only in primary gastroenterological disorders one should look for dermatological complications, but should also think in chronic skin lesions of concomitant intestinal alterations. 2. In all patients with collagen diseases a gastrointestinal involvement is very common. 3. In all endocrine disorders except in hypothyroidism diarrhea is a very common finding. 4. Infiltrations of gastrointestinal tract can be demonstrated in many cases by gastric, small bowel or rectal biopsy. 5. In all forms of dysgammaglobulinemia giardiasis is very common. 6. In right heart failure protein-losing enteropathy should be considered, in left ventricular insufficiency bowel ischemia.