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Query: UMLS:C0024523 (malabsorption)
 7,319 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Malabsorption (M) is characterized by absorption defect of one or several nutriments in small bowel. Its clinical expression is rarely obvious and biological signs are: anaemia, low serum protein, albumin and lipid rates, low serum calcium, phosphorus and potassium level, and hypoprothrombinaemia. But only 4 simple and reliable tests are needed for diagnosis: i. e.: daily faecal fat amount measurement, daily faecal nitrogen excretion, the xylose test and the Schilling's test. This syndrome is related to many conditions which can be divided into 2 groups with and without intestinal abnormalities. The relationships between M and skin diseases belong to 4 types (J. Marks and S. Shuster): 1) M is responsible for the cutaneous signs, 2) M is caused by a skin disease, 3) both M and skin disease are the result of a same cause, 4) M and skin disease are associated in an indirect way. Only the two first types are dealt with in this report. Skin manifestations occur as a complication in 10 p. 100 to 20 p. 100 of cases of M. They are mostly polymorphous or non-specific, as they are related to multiple vitamin or essential amino acid deficiencies and heal with the treatment of M. The main conditions encountered are diffuse pigmentation, acquired ichthyosis, follicular keratosis, nail brittleness and hair loss. Mucous membrane lesions, purpura and eczematoid or psoriasis-like dermatitis have also been described. More uncommon are clubbing of fingers, finger print abnormalities, kwashiorkor or acrodermatitis enteropathica-like eruptions. The dermatogenic enteropathy, i. e. a M syndrome due to a skin disease, occurs as a result of widespread involvement of the body for instance in psoriasis or eczema; its clinical expression is rarely obvious, the histological record of gut biopsy usually normal and the results of biological tests often dissociated, but steatorrhoea is frequently found. The pathogenesis of the condition is still unknown but its importance is related to the extent of the skin disease and it only improves with the treatment of the latter. All these features and others are discussed in the report with a comprehensive review of the literature.
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PMID:[Cutaneous manifestations of malabsorption diseases (author's transl)]. 38 Apr 45

Vitamin A is necessary to maintain the integrity and the differentiation of epithelia of the skin and adnexa. Evident deficiency of vitamin A in chronic diseases, malabsorption and liver affections may result in skin xerosis, follicular keratosis, and metaplasia of mucous membranes. The remarkable toxicity of vitamin A in high doses does not recommend its usage in dermatology. On the contrary the employ of retinoids, synthetic derivatives of vitamin A, brings to excellent results. These vitamin A compounds are much more effective, even if they show important side-effects. Etretinate and isotretinoin are widely used in psoriasis, keratinization disorders, and severe acne. Vitamin E functions in skin biology are not totally known. Vitamin E is used in the treatment of dermolytic recessive epidermolysis bullosa, with controversial results.
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PMID:[Vitamin A and vitamin E in dermatology]. 391 47

A case is reported herein of a young man with pityriasis rubra pilaris, a disease of unknown cause, and malabsorption due to celiac bowel disease. The patient responded to high-dose vitamin A therapy (500,000 IU orally per day for fourteen days). There was complete exfoliation of the palmar-plantar keratoderma and a decrease in the peeling and follicular keratosis. He was then placed on a regimen of a gluten-free diet and 100,000 IU vitamin A per day. After seven months he had persistent erythema but minimal hyperkeratosis. The ways in which cutaneous lesions and malabsorption could be related are discussed.
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PMID:Pityriasis rubra pilaris and celiac sprue with malabsorption. 737 93