Abstract :
Background: Microscopic Enteritis (ME) is characterized by increase in intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) in intestinal mucosa. It represents a common feature of broad group of diseases including gluten mediated and non gluten related diseases. Duodenal biopsies play an important role in diagnosing these group of disorders.
Aim: To compare IEL counts in Hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) stain and CD3 immunohistochemical (IHC) stain in duodenal biopsies of suspected malabsorption cases and compare them with clinical, immunological and biochemical parameters.
Setting & Design: This was a prospective study of two years.
Materials and Methods: 164 patients were studied. IEL counted at villous tip and base in H&E sections and IHC were compared in duodenal biopsy. Data of clinical history, other parameters were collected and correlated whenever available.
Statistical Analysis: To compare any two variables, Chi - square test and independent T test was used. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0>
Results: Out of 164 cases,105 cases had increased IEL. The age range was 4 to 94 years with mean age of 43.29 ± 17.96 years. Males (56, 53.3%) were affected more than females (49, 46.6%). The clinical and histological parameters showing statistical significance with raised IEL were pallor, dyspepsia, loss of appetite, crypt architecture, blunting, ulcer, villous crypt ratio, exudates, reactive atypia and edema with P< 0>
Conclusion: ME should be investigated and diagnosed in correlation with a detail clinical history, complete haematological, biochemical and serological findings.
Keyword :
Biopsy, Intestinal mucosa, Intraepithelial lymphocytes, Malabsorption syndromes