Malabsorption and its causes in Natal
Moshal, M.G.; Hift, W.; Kallichurum, S.; Pillay, K.
South African Medical Journal 47(25): 1093-1103
1973
ISSN/ISBN: 0256-9574 PMID: 4714705 Document Number: 65234
A disorder indistinguishable on biochemical, radiological and histological grounds from endemic tropical sprue with malabsorption was observed in 23 Zulu and 1 Indian in Durban. All patients were anaemic, megaloblastic in 23, with a mean Hb value of 5.0 g/100 ml. In 13 serum vitamin B-12 was below 200 ng/ml, in 14 serum folacin was below 3.5 pg/ml and in 10 serum albumin was below 3.5 g/100 ml. Patients responded equally well clinically and biochemically to folacin and tetracycline but jejunal histology was slow to respond.