Serum cholesterol in idiopathic and lupus-related protein-losing enteropathy.
Abstract The characteristics of protein-losing enteropathy were evaluated in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Among the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (n=380) in a tertiary hospital, we reviewed the records of seven patients with generalized edema, hypoalbuminemia without proteinuria and positive results on 99mTc-labelled human serum albumin scintigrams. Patient characteristics and laboratory findings were compared between these seven patients and patients with lupus enteritis (n=15) or idiopathic protein-losing enteropathy (n=11). Compared with the lupus enteritis patients, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and serum total cholesterol levels were significantly increased in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus-related protein-losing enteropathy. Compared with idiopathic protein-losing enteropathy patients, the level of serum total cholesterol was significantly increased, but the level of serum albumin was decreased in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus-related protein-losing enteropathy. Among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus-related protein-losing enteropathy, four patients had high serum total cholesterol levels (>or=248 mg/dL) and achieved complete remission after receiving high doses of steroid treatment. However, three patients who had low serum total cholesterol levels (<or=219 mg/dL) responded poorly to the steroid-only treatment, and could achieve complete remission only after 3 months of cyclophosphamide pulse treatment with concurrent corticosteroid therapy. The levels of serum total cholesterol are intriguing feature in systemic lupus erythematosus-associated protein-losing enteropathy patients.
Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Y G
YG
Kim
C-K
CK
Lee
J-S
JS
Byeon
S-J
SJ
Myung
J S
JS
Oh
S-S
SS
Nah
H-B
HB
Moon
B
B
Yoo
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011504:Protein-Losing Enteropathies / Q000097:blood*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D002784:Cholesterol