Chronic diarrhea with villous atrophy

What it is

Chronic diarrhea with villous atrophy is a rare, genetic gastroenterological disease characterized by the early onset of chronic diarrhea, vomiting, anorexia, lactic acidosis, renal insufficiency and hepatic involvement (mild elevation of liver enzymes, steatosis, hepatomegaly). Partial villous atrophy (with eosinophilic infiltration) is observed on intestinal biopsy. Although diarrhea may resolve, the development of neurologic symptoms (cerebellar ataxia, sensorineural deafness, seizures), retinitis pigmentosa and muscle weakness may complicate disease course and lead to death. There have been no further descriptions in the literature since 1994.

Key facts

Prevalence

<1 / 1 000 000

Age of onset

Infancy

Classified as

Disease

Prevalence figures describe populations, not individuals, and are often estimates from a single study. Where the figure is an incidence or a birth prevalence, it says so.

ICD-10 codes

ICD-10 has no distinct code for most rare diseases, so many are filed under the nearest available one. A shared code identifies the group, not this disease — the ORPHAcode above is what identifies it.

Related health topics

Reached through the ICD-10 categories this disease is filed under, so these describe the broader group rather than this disease specifically.

Cross-references