digestive disorders
Intestinal Lymphangiectasia
Introduction
Intestinal lymphangiectasia is a rare disorder in which the lymph vessels supplying the lining of the small intestine are blocked, resulting in Overview of Malabsorption . This disorder is the result of improperly formed intestinal lymph vessels or blockage of lymph flow from the intestines. Diarrhea and swelling of the legs are the main symptoms. The diagnosis is based on the results of a biopsy. Once the specific cause of the disorder is treated, following a low-fat, high-protein diet and taking supplements can help manage symptoms. The lymph vessels (see Overview of the Lymphatic System ) from the digestive tract carry digested fats that were absorbed by the small intestine. Sometimes, children are born with intestinal wall lymph vessels that are improperly formed, which causes blockage of the flow of lymph fluid. These children are typically diagnosed before 3 years of age. Less commonly, the flow of lymph fluid from the digestive tract becomes blocked later in life as a result of such conditions as inflammation of the pancreas ( Overview of Pancreatitis ), tumors, or stiffening of the sac that envelops the heart (constrictive pericarditis). Blockage of the lymph flow causes lymph fluid to leak back into the intestine, preventing fat and proteins from being absorbed. 