Small intestinal function in malignant neoplasia

Abstract

Of 20 patients with malignant neoplasia arising outside the small bowel, who were investigated for evidences of malabsorption, 13 had impaired D-xylose absorption, and four had slightly elevated fecal fat excretion. Jejunal biopsy showed only slight blunting of the villi in one patient. A rapid plasma clearance of 3H-folic acid was seen in all of the eight patients in whom this test was done. Serum folic acid was low in 11 of 18 patients. The findings suggest that the impairment of small intestinal function seen in patients with malignant neoplasia is mostly confined to the proximal small bowel, and it is probably related to folic acid deficiency. The finding of a selective elevation of serum IgA in patients with lung cancer is explained on the basis of a local stimulatory effect of the neoplasia on the immunoglobulin production.