Congenital lymphangiectasia and atopy.

Intestinal lymphangiectasia, a disease characterized by excessive intestinal protein loss, asymmetrical peripheral edema, ascites, immunologic deficiencies, lymphocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia, imparied lymphocyte transformation, gastrointestinal symptoms and retarded growth, is the result of abnormal, distorted and obstructed lymph channels, causing rupture of intestinal lacteals from back-flow of lymph, with leakage of nutrient-laden lymph into the lumen of the bowel. A case of congenital intestinal lymphagiectasia is described, with the additional problems of allergic asthma, rhinitis, eczema and lactase deficiency. This patient, an 11-year-old child, was greatly benefited by proper allergy management (elimination diet, hyposensitization) plus restriction of fats and supplementing the diet with medium-chain triglycerides (MCT).