Malabsorption syndrome and tropical sprue in a patient with capillaria infection.

A 52-year-old male complained of a four-year history of diarrhea. He had severe diarrhea and lost 10 kg of weight during the previous eight months. Physical examination revealed moderate wasting with mild eodema on both legs. His serum cholesterol, calcium, total protein, albumin, glodium and potassium levels were depressed. Both serum folate and vitamin B12 levels were within the normal limits. A G-I follow through study revealed irregularity of distal jejunum and mid-ileum. Intestinal biopsy showed shortening and widening of ileal villi, and that the submucosa was infiltrated with lymphocytes, eosinophils and plasma cells. Because of these findings coupled with the fact that no ova and parasites were detected in the stool, this patient was diagnosed as a case of tropical sprue. Tetracycline, flagyl and folic acid were given, but there was no clinical improvement. A segmental biopsy of the ileum showed C. philippinensis larvae in the crypts and surface mucosa. Mebendazole was given and the patient improved. Intestinal capillariasis is different from tropical sprue in that its pathology is usually in the jejunum while tropical sprue is in both the jejunum and ileum. Therefore, the serum vitamin B12 level is usually normal in the former while both serum folate and vitamin B12 levels are low in the latter.