title: [Exudative enteropathy in heart insufficiency--apropos of 3 clinical cases].
abstract: Severe hypoproteinaemia due to increased intestinal protein losses, known as exudative enteropathy, was seen in three patients (two with rheumatic valvular heart disease and one with congenital heart disease). The authors review the relationship between serum proteins and cardiac disease, describing the diagnostic methods and the prognosis. From a clinical point of view, protein-losing enteropathy should be suspected in patients with right heart failure and severe hypoalbuminaemia. Recognition of this syndrome is important because the treatment of the cardiac lesion may reduce or remove this rare complication.
authors.affiliation: Hospitais Civis de Lisboa Hospital de Santa Marta, Serviço de Cardiologia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abreu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agapito
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mata Antunes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011504:Protein-Losing Enteropathies / Q000209:etiology*
vernacular_title: Enteropatia exsudativa na insuficiência cardíaca--a propósito de 3 casos clínicos.