Open AccessProtein losing gastroenteropathy due toHelicobacter pyloriinfection without giant rugal folds, erosion or polyposis
Author(s) -
Katsunobu Yoshioka,
Masanori Kishibuchi,
Kiyoshi Takada
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr-2019-230870
Subject(s) - hypoproteinemia , medicine , protein losing enteropathy , helicobacter pylori , gastroenterology , duodenal bulb , endoscopy , rapid urease test , pathology , stomach , enteropathy , gastritis , disease
An 85-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of progressive hypoproteinemia and generalised oedema. Technetium-99m human albumin scintigraphy revealed protein leakage in the gastrointestinal tract. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed small whitish nodules from the gastric body up to the duodenal bulb. The urease test for Helicobacter pylori infection was positive. We diagnosed her as having protein-losing gastroenteropathy (PLGE) caused by H. pylori infection. The patient's hypoproteinemia and clinical symptoms promptly resolved after H. pylori eradication. Our results suggest that a trial of H. pylori eradication is warranted in patients with PLGE, even if endoscopy reveals neither giant rugal folds, erosion of the mucosa, nor polyposis, which are previously reported characteristic endoscopic findings of PLGE.