Sandbox:Riad

Historical perspective:

Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia (Waldmann's disease) was first discovered by Waldmann T.A. in 1961 when he reported 18 cases of patients having edema with low serum albumin and gammaglobulin and proteins levels ''idiopathic hypercatabolic hypoproteinemia". Assessment using radio-labeled ¹³¹I-albumin resulted in low levels in those patients. In addition, small intestinal biopsies were examined under microscope revealing different degrees of lymphatic vessel dilatation.

Pathophysiology:

Pathology: PIL develops as a result of dilatation of intestinal lymphatic vessels (lacteals) with leakage of their contents into the bowel lumen leading to hypoalbuminemia, hypogammaglobulinemia and lymphopenia. Hypoproteinemia leads to edema. It is a form of protein losing enteropathy.