[Early and lasting remission of protein-losing enteropathy with corticosteroids].
OBJECTIVE
To emphasize the possibility of obtaining good quality and lasting remission of a severe idiopathic protein-loosing enteropathy with corticosteroid therapy.


METHODS
A 30 year-old woman was hospitalized for edema of the lower limbs related to hypoalbuminemia due to a protein-loosing enteropathy, demonstrated by measurement of alpha-1 antitrypsin clearance. Diagnosis of lupus was evoked but not confirmed. Nutritional treatment failed. Corticosteroids administered in a bolus, and subsequently per os, rapidly led to complete, lasting (22 months later) remission.


CONCLUSIONS
Corticosteroid therapy is the classical treatment of a protein-loosing enteropathy concomitant to disseminated lupus erythematosus, a rare combination. In the absence of lupus, a few cases of remission from a protein-loosing enteropathy have been reported. However, the delay before remission was longer than in our case report, and the remission-free period generally shorter.


CONCLUSIONS
Corticosteroid therapy is an effective treatment of an idiopathic protein-loosing enteropathy.
Dupont
Eric
E
Service de Médecine Interne 4, Hôpital de la Cavale Blanche, CHU Brest, 29609 Brest.
Cleuziou
Anne
A
Gendre
Jean-Pierre
JP
Cénac
Arnaud
A
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications; D011504:Protein-Losing Enteropathies / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones