Ceroid enteropathy and vitamin E deficiency.

Ceroid (polymerised peroxidised polyunsaturated fatty acids) deposition in the intestine is a result of chronic malabsorption and vitamin E deficiency. This gives the bowel a striking brown colour. Three patients are described with this condition. The macroscopic and microscopic appearances were similar, but the cause of the malabsorption differed. In one patient with polyarteritis there was regression of the pigments with improvement of the malabsorption after treatment with prednisone.