title: [A case of protein-losing enteropathy associated with small bowel villous atrophy].
abstract: Protein losing enteropathy is described as a diverse group of disorders associated with excessive loss of serum proteins into the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The etiology of protein losing enteropathy is various. Increased mucosal permeability to protein as a result of cell damage, mucosal erosion, or lymphatic obstruction may develop protein losing enteropathy. Celiac disease is a common cause of protein losing enteropathy associated with small bowel villous atrophy in Europe. We experienced a case of protein losing enteropathy associated with small bowel villous atrophy of unknown origin. A 36-year-old woman was admitted due to chronic watery diarrhea and weight loss. Laboratory findings showed total protein 4.7 g/dL, albumin 2.7 g/dL, cholesterol 100 mg/dL, WBC 6,000/mm3 (lymphocyte 13.6%) with the absence of proteinuria. On esophagogastroduodenoscopic examination, duodenal ulcer scar was noted on the bulb and colonoscopic finding was nonspecific. On small bowel enteroscopy, jejunal and ileal villi was scantly noticed. Small bowel biopsy showed marked villous atrophy. Her symptoms did not improve after supportive care. Gluten free diet was tried because celiac disease could not be ruled out completely. Diarrhea ceased and body weight regained after gluten free diet.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Oh Young
authors.initials: OY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chang Su
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Eun
authors.forename: Byoung Joo
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.forename: Won
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.forename: Seung Sam
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Baeg
authors.forename: Byung Chul
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Ho Soon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001284:Atrophy; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D003113:Colonoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007082:Ileum / Q000473:pathology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D007583:Jejunum / Q000473:pathology*; D011504:Protein-Losing Enteropathies / Q000209:etiology*; D012709:Serum Albumin; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D012709:Serum Albumin; D013668:Technetium Tc 99m Aggregated Albumin