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PROTEIN‐LOSING ENTEROPATHY
Author(s) -
ESPINER E. A.,
BEAVEN D. W.
Publication year - 1962
Publication title -
australasian annals of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 0571-9283
DOI - 10.1111/imj.1962.11.3.205
Subject(s) - protein losing enteropathy , enteropathy , laparotomy , medicine , albumin , gastroenterology , lymphangiectasia , ascites , lesion , small intestine , lymphatic system , pathology , surgery , disease
Summary A man, aged 54 years, presented with œdema, ascites and hypoproteinæmia of 20 years' duration. Results of investigation of cardiac, renal and hepatic function were normal. There was no history suggesting a gastro‐intestinal disorder and investigation of bowel function was largely unproductive. Studies with I 131 albumin and polyvinyl pyrrolidone established that protein was being lost through the bowel. The I 131 albumin disappearance studies were repeated under steroid cover, but no change in disappearance rates was observed. Laparotomy showed an œdematous and hyperæmic small bowel with dilatation of serosal lymphatics, while jejunal biopsy material disclosed widespread lymphangiectasia—the most striking lesion of this protein‐losing enteropathy.