Intestinal lymphangiectasia in a patient with autoimmune polyglandular disease type I and steatorrhea.

Steatorrhea is seen in 18-24% of patients with autoimmune polyglandular disease (APD) type 1. The etiology and pathophysiology of the steatorrhea in this disease are unknown. We present a patient with APD type 1 and steatorrhea in whom biopsies revealed intestinal lymphangiectasia. This association has not been previously described. Intestinal lymphangiectasia may explain the steatorrhea in some patients with APD type 1. As blind intestinal biopsies may miss areas of intestinal lymphangiectasia, endoscopically directed intestinal biopsies should be included in the evaluation of steatorrhea in APD type 1.