Lymphangiectasia

Lymphangiectasia, also known as "lymphangiectasis", is a pathologic dilation of lymph vessels. When it occurs in the intestines it is known as intestinal lymphangiectasia, colloquially recognized as Waldmann's disease in cases where there is no secondary cause. The primary defect lies in the inability of the lymphatic system to adequately drain lymph, resulting in its subsequent accumulation and leakage into the intestinal lumen. This condition, first described by Waldmann in 1961, is typically diagnosed in infancy or early childhood. However, it can also manifest in adults, exhibiting a broad spectrum of clinical symptoms.

==Signs and symptoms== The pathophysiology of intestinal lymphangiectasia is centered around the dilation of the lymphatic vessels in the intestinal mucosa, submucosa, and sometimes the mesentery. This dilation impedes the normal flow of lymph from the intestines back to the circulatory system. The overflow of lymphatic fluid into the intestines leads to the loss of lymphocytes, immunoglobulins, and proteins, causing lymphopenia, hypogammaglobulinemia, and hypoalbuminemia, respectively. The loss of proteins contributes to the development of protein-losing enteropathy, a major clinical manifestation of this disease.