title: An unusual cause of protein losing enteropathy in a 2.5-year-old girl: meso-intestinal fibrosis.
abstract: Introduction Protein losing enteropathy is a symptom characterized by loss of protein in intestines resulting in low protein levels in serum and generalized edema. Several causes are reported for this condition. Hereby we report an as yet unreported cause of protein losing enteropathy that we named meso-intestinal fibrosis. Case Report A 2.5-year-old girl referred with features of partial intestinal obstruction and underwent laparotomy. She had history of protein losing enteropathy since 16 months of age with generalized edema and received albumin every other week. Workup of protein losing enteropathy was inconclusive and only a histology report denoted increase in eosinophils in lamina propria of small intestine and hypoallergenic diet was started for her, but no significant response was noted. Laparotomy revealed lace-like white areas in meso of small intestine and intestinal wall was firm in palpation in some areas. Biopsy was taken from these sites and histology revealed severe fibrosis of meso overlying muscularis propria and also patchy fibrosis of intestinal meso led to severe lymphangiectasis in submucosa of small intestine. Discussion Secondary lymphangiectasis due to obstruction of lymphatic flow is mentioned as cause of protein losing enteropathy. Meso-intestinal fibrosis seen in this case that led to secondary lymphangiectasis and also motility disorder has not been reported as yet.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Valiasr Hospital, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mahjoub
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Mehri Najafi
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Sani
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Ahmad Khaleghnejad
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Tabari
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monajemzadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zandieh
keywords: meso-intestinal fibrosis; pediatric age group; protein losing enteropathy