VALUE OF BIOPSY OF THE LIVER IN NUTRITIONAL DYSTROPHY

Abstract

THIS PAPER deals with the results of biopsies of the liver in infants with nutritional dystrophy. Gillman and Gillman,¹in South Africa, published similar experiences in infantile pellagra. These authors checked the therapeutic efficiency of dried stomach, liver extract and vitamin B by biopsy of the liver. We used choline and dried stomach in treatment of the present series. The clinical syndrome to be discussed is called "polycarencial dystrophy" in Chile, "specific dermatosis" in Uruguay and "beriberic pelagroid" in Cuba. In Mexico, the syndrome is called "culebrilla (snakeskin)." In the United States the terms "nutritional edema" and "hydropigenous multideficiency dystrophy" are used. These "polycarencial (multiple deficiency)" dystrophies appear generally in infants over 1 year of age and occur frequently in countries with deficient hygienic conditions. The history of these patients reveals inadequate protein intake, excessive carbohydrate feeding and little or no consumption of fat. Vitamins are absolutely insufficient. As