Jejunal Mucosa in Infant Malnutrition

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Abstract
The histology of the jejunal mucosa and the mitotic index were studied in infants with marasmus or kwashiorkor and in normals. In kwashiorkor, the histology of the jejunal mucosa was similar to celiac sprue; it is suggested that this may indicate a common pathway of reaction of the jejunal mucosa to different noxic agents. The mucosa of the marasmic infants was similar to the normal controls, although thinner. In kwashiorkor, the mitotic index is significantly lower than in the controls although not as low as in marasmus. In marasmic infants, the mitotic index is lower in those who do not increase in weight, when compared with those infants who gain weight while on the same diet. It is suggested that in kwashiorkor the energy supply is adequate to maintain a mitotic index only somewhat lower than in the controls while in the marasmics, all nutrients are lacking, especially Calories, and this may explain the low proliferative activity in the crypts of Lieberkühn.