Structure and function of the small bowel in lepromatous leprosy.

The structural and functional status of the small bowel was examined in ten patients with lepromatous leprosy. The absorptive functions were essentially normal in all patients except for minor abnormalities; one patient had mild steatorrhea and two others had derangement of D-xylose absorption. Barium examination did not reveal any abnormality in any patient. Histological study of the small intestinal mucosa showed mild, partial villous atrophy in two patients and normal appearances in the remaining eight. The above abnormalities were mild and were not considered to be of any clinical significance. It is therefore concluded that the small bowel is not commonly involved in lepromatous leprosy.