Sarcoidosis and protein losing enteropathy.
The authors report a case of sarcoidosis associated with protein losing enteropathy. The diagnosis of intrathoracic stage I sarcoidosis was based on x-ray and biopsy of mediastinal lymph nodes. Enteric protein loss was suspected because of edema lasting for 2 yr, hypoproteinemia, decreased concentrations of serum immunoglobulins, and lymphopenia involving mainly T-cells and proved by 51CrCl3 test (21%/120 hr). Lymphography was consistent with granulomatous involvement of retroperitoneal lymph glands while small bowel biopsy showed blunt villi and dilated lacteals. All the pathological parameters normalized after 6 mo of prednisone treatment. In some cases of sarcoidosis, when abdominal lymph glands are involved, cellular and humoral immunologic derangements may be caused or potentiated by excessive enteric protein and lymphocyte loss.
D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D011504:Protein-Losing Enteropathies / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D012507:Sarcoidosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology