High-altitude precipitation and exacerbation of protein-losing enteropathy after a Fontan operation.
We describe the development and exacerbation of protein-losing enteropathy after relocating to an environment at an altitude of 3695 feet in El Paso, Texas, in a patient who had undergone a Fontan operation. This report should heighten awareness to the possibility of such patients developing protein-losing enteropathy at high-altitude, with hypoxemia-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction, and subsequent elevation of central venous pressure, the most likely underlying mechanism.
McMahon
C J
CJ
Department of Pediatrics, Texas Children's Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston 77030, USA.
Hicks
J M
JM
Dreyer
W J
WJ
D000531:Altitude; D002496:Central Venous Pressure; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D018729:Fontan Procedure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D011504:Protein-Losing Enteropathies / Q000209:etiology*