A Correlation between Suckling Pressures and the Movements of the Tongue

Three patients with essential hypopro-teinaemia are described. In all of them, signs and symptoms suggested an intestinal lesion. In two of them a PVP test wiis performed and gave a pathological result. Our cases and those of others strongly support the hypothesis that many cases of unexplained hypoproteinaemia are caused by intestinal disease. The poor general condition of one of the patients led us to perform a laporotomy. Biopsies showed distinct lesions of the small intestine. A large part of the diseased small intestine was resected without benefit. In some chronic cases surgical intervention may be tried. The PVP test, as first described by Gordon, is of great diagnostic aid in such cases.