Jejunal biopsies in protein-calorie malnutrition and intestinal parasitic infestation in Brazil.

Jejunal biopsies were performed in 71 subjects, who were classified into three groups as follows: Forty-one patients, on a poor diet, without clinical signs of malnutrition, with and without parasitic infestation; nineteen patients with severe protein-calorie malnutrition, with and without parasitic infestation; control group, ten medical students and one of the authors on a normal diet and without parasitic infestation. The dissecting microscope appearance showed mild alteration of the intestinal villi of Group A patients with parasitic infestation and severe alteration on Group B patients, especially those with parasitism. On histological examination, only the total mucosal thickness showed statistically significant differences between the Group B (severe protein malnutrition) and the other groups.