Massive Jejunal Diverticulosis with Steatorrhoea and Megaloblastic Anaemia Improved by Excision of Diverticula

The clinical and metabolic significance of jejunal diverticula

“…Badenoch, Bedford, and Evans (1955) found gastric atrophy in two patients with achlorhydria and a normal biopsy in the one in whom gastric HCl was present. In the patients with free HCl reported by Watkinson, Feather, Marson, and Dossett (1959) and by Crawford and Freeman (1961) the gastric mucosa was normal. Gastric atrophy, despite the presence of free acid, was found in the patient with megaloblastic anaemia reported by Johnson and Wysor (1961).…”

“…Three patients were re-tested after a course of antibiotics and showed normal excretion of d-xylose. Low excretion values of d-xylose have been reported by Watkinson, Feather, Marson, and Dossett (1959), by Johnson and Wysor (1961), and by Schiffer, Faloon, Chodos, and Lozner (1962).…”

“…Megaloblastic anaemia and steatorrhoea were found in a woman of 25 by Wilkinson (1955). Kozinn and Jennings (1941) Blachford and Dawson (1956) Gellman (1956) Welbourn, Nelson, and Zacharias (1956) Halsted, Gasster, and Lewis (1956) Krevans, Conley, and Sachs (1956) Townsend and Cameron (1957) Scudamore, Hagedorn, Wollaeger, and Owen (1958) Lee and Finby (1958) Watkinson, Feather, Marson, and Dossett (1959) Doig and Girdwood (1960) Johnson and Wysor (1961) Crawford and Freeman (1961) Polachek, Pijanowski, and Miller (1961) Schiffer, Faloon, Chodos, and Lozner (1962) bacterial endocarditis. Investigations revealed jejunal diverticulosis, steatorrhoea, and intestinal infection as the cause of her symptoms.…”

Radiation hazards.

“…This syndrome of pseudo-obstruction, as particularly exemplified by the third patient, has been well described.6 7 It tends to develop in elderly patients and is frequently associated with an acute infection such as pneumonia or with cardiac or renal failure. Clinically it needs to be distinguished not only from organic internal obstruction but, for instance, from the apparent acute obstruction which often develops in association with acute pancreatitis or cholecystitis.…”

Steatorrhoea in the Elderly

“…Jejunal diverticulosis which accounted for two cases in the series is an uncommon cause of steatorrhoea. The initial cases re ported (Badenoch and Bedford, 1954) stimulated interest in the asso ciation and the latest review I have been able to trace (Watkinson et al, 1959) records a total of 21 cases of diverticulosis with steator rhoea, in 17 of which a megaloblastic anaemia was also present.…”