[Presumed natural history of peritonitis caused by encapsulating membranes. Clinical aspects and therapy].

Incapsulating peritonitis is rare, casually detected by surgery or autopsy. Its pathogenesis and evolution are uncertain. Only 200 cases are reported in the world literature, but its frequency is diminishing probably in relation to the reducing spread of tuberculosis. Capsulating membranes seem to grow from a poorly cellular connective deposition in many layers on the intestinal peritonium, and are preceeded by inflammatory ascites. When mechanical occlusion occurs, surgery is the choice therapy, to remove the obstacle and, if possible, the membranes too. A wide review of the literature is given.