title: Protein-losing enteropathy as the principal manifestation of constrictive pericarditis.
abstract: Constrictive pericarditis represents a rare cause of protein-losing enteropathy due to intestinal lymphangiectasia. We report the case of a patient with an atypical clinical presentation of constrictive pericarditis and protein-losing enteropathy as its principal manifestation; he was successfully treated with pericardiectomy. We conclude that, constrictive pericarditis should be considered in the presence of protein losing enteropathy and also, protein-losing enteropathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hypoalbuminemia.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Propaedeutic Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece. niknik@med.auth.gr
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nikolaidis
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tziomalos
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Giouleme
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gkisakis
authors.forename: Amalia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kokkinomagoulou
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Karatzas
authors.forename: Athanassios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papanikolaou
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tsitourides
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Eugenidis
authors.forename: Athanassios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kontopoulos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010494:Pericarditis, Constrictive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D010496:Pericardium / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D011504:Protein-Losing Enteropathies / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D011868:Radioisotopes; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012709:Serum Albumin
chemical_list: D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D011868:Radioisotopes; D012709:Serum Albumin; C107869:technetium Tc 99m serum albumin