Histological studies of small-intestinal biopsies from infants with low rate of weight gain.

Eighty-one children aged 4-18 months with unsatisfactory weight gain were investigated for organic diseases; the investigation included small-intestinal biopsy. Sixteen had total villous atrophy, in most cases due to gluten intolerance. Transient disease, e.g. cow's milk protein intolerance, was probable in 7 children with subtotal atrophy. In 18 children the only abnormal finding was an increased number of inflammatory cells in the mucosa, a finding which was probably of no clinical significance. Planimetric measurement showed good agreement between the mucosal surface/volume ratio and an ordinary histological grouping of the mucosa. A significant correlation was found between the rate of weight gain during the period preceding investigation and mucosal surface/volume ratio.