[Peroral duodeno-jejunal biopsy in children. Indications and personal cases].

In this study we report our experience with 50 intestinal biopsies carried out in 35 children in a 14 months period (October 1979-December 1980) and we also describe the technique we use. The biopsy has been performed by two operators using the Crosby capsule, placed at the duodenojejunal flexure under fluoroscopic screening. For sedation we used oral Promazine and viscous xylocaine and i.v. Metoclopramide and Diazepam; the sedation has been classified in 4 degrees and resulted very good in 40 cases, good in 8 cases and sufficient in 2. The biopsy specimens has been examined with dissecting and light microscope and demonstrated 14 sub-total villous atrophy, 2 severe partial villous atrophy, 5 partial villous atrophy and 29 normal villous morphology. By this technique we made a diagnosis of Coeliac disease in 8 cases, suspected Coeliac disease in 3 cases, Dermatitis Herpetiformis in 3 cases and cow's milk proteins intolerance and post-enteritis syndrome in 1 case. No complications occurred during or after intubation. The AA. confirm the diagnostic value of this investigation, its safety and its very high degree of sensitivity superior to any other test of intestinal absorption.