Trichobezoar, gastric polyposis, protein-losing gastroenteropathy and steatorrhoea.

A mentally subnormal patient presenting with oedema was found at gastroscopy to have a large trichobezoar and multiple gastric polyps. The serum concentrations of albumin and IgG were low in the absence of proteinuria, and the gastrointestinal clearance of radiochromium after the intravenous administration of radiochromic chloride was increased. These findings are compatible with increased gastrointestinal loss of plasma proteins. In addition, the patient had steatorrhoea. All of these abnormal findings were markedly improved after operative removal of the bezoar.