Clinical and Laboratory Evidence of Malabsorption - Essay Example

'Clinical and Laboratory Evidence of Malabsorption' is a good example of a paper on the gastrointestinal system. 
Weight loss
Malabsorption is a common problem in alcoholics and mainly occurs due to diffuse functional mucosal abnormality and abnormal luminal phase of digestion. The nutrients which are malabsorbed are fat, nitrogen, sodium, water, thiamine, folic acid, vitamin B12, and D-xylose. Due to malabsorption, weight loss occurs.

Bloating sensation, and epigastric pain after ingestion of fatty foods
Malabsorption causes accumulation of fats in the intestines,  leading to a sensation of epigastric pain and bloating.

Frequent bulky, foul-smelling and light-colored stools
In chronic alcohol disease, abnormalities in biliary secretion and pancreatic insufficiency occur due to the direct effects of alcohol on the gastrointestinal system. Thus enzymes that digest fat are decreased and fat does not get digested. This leads to fat malabsorption. Precess excess fat is stools that make the stools appear bulky and foul smelly. The decrease in bile enzymes makes the stools pale.

Vitals signs of the patient are grossly fluctuant in supine and standing position Skin appears dry, wrinkled with reduced skin turgor
The patient has poor health and has chronic biliary and pancreatic insufficiency because of chronic alcohol disease. He has malabsorption of proteins and vitamins because of which he has postural hypotension and poor skin integrity. Due to frequent stools, he has dehydration and hence the reduced skin turgor.

No jaundice, spider angioma or ascitic fluid
The patient has only biliary insufficiency and is not in liver failure. 

The patient has muscle weakness and has difficulty in getting up from the chair
Due to malabsorption, the patient has low protein in the muscle leading to muscle weakness. Also, electrolyte disturbance like hypokalemia due to frequent stools can cause muscle weakness.

Investigations:
Gross increase in 3 days stools volume and fat in stools. Stool microscopy is s/o fat globules and meat fibers

Low serum cholesterol, triglycerides
Due to fat malabsorption

Low serum potassium
Loss of fluid and electrolytes due to frequent stools

Low serum calcium
Inappropriate calcium absorption

Normal liver enzymes and pancreas enzymes
No inflammation of the organs, only chronic insufficiency

Biliary and pancreatic insufficiency due to chronic alcoholism
Clinical and laboratory evidence of fat malabsorption, absence of liver failure