Development and validation of a prediction model for hypoproteinemia after traumatic spinal cord injury: A multicenter retrospective clinical study.

A multicenter retrospective analysis of conventionally collected data. To identify the potential causes of hypoproteinemia after traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) and provide a diagnostic model for predicting an individual likelihood of developing hypoproteinemia. Hypoproteinemia is a complication of spinal cord injury (SCI), an independent risk factor for respiratory failure in elderly patients with SCI, and a predictor of outcomes in patients with cervical SCI. Few nomogram-based studies have used clinical indicators to predict the likelihood of hypoproteinemia following TSCI. This multicenter retrospective clinical analysis included patients with TSCI admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Wuzhou GongRen Hospital, and Dahua Yao Autonomous County People Hospital between 2016 and 2020. The data of patients from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University were used as the training set, and those from the other 2 hospitals were used as the validation set. All patient histories, diagnostic procedures, and imaging findings were recorded. To predict whether patients with TSCI may develop hypoproteinemia, a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression analysis was conducted to create a nomogram. The model was validated by analyzing the consequences using decision curve analysis, calibration curves, the C-index, and receiver operating characteristic curves. After excluding patients with missing data, 534 patients were included in this study. Male/female sex, age ≥ 60 years, cervical SCI, pneumonia, pleural effusion, urinary tract infection (UTI), hyponatremia, fever, hypotension, and tracheostomy were identified as independent risk factors of hypoalbuminemia. A simple and easy-to-replicate clinical prediction nomogram was constructed using these factors. The area under the curve was 0.728 in the training set and 0.881 in the validation set. The predictive power of the nomogram was satisfactory. Hypoalbuminemia after TSCI may be predicted using the risk factors of male/female sex, age ≥ 60 years, cervical SCI, pneumonia, pleural effusion, UTI, hyponatremia, fever, hypotension, and tracheostomy.

Construction and validation of a pulmonary complication score for patients after liver transplantation.

PURPOSE: Identification of preoperative risk factors associated with pulmonary complications may benefit high-risk patients from more intense surveillance and earlier interventions in liver transplantation (LT). Our study aimed to identify risk factors for predicting pulmonary complications in LT patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The discovery data set enrolled 208 patients who underwent orthotopic LT while the validation data set included 117 patients. Clinical data were collected from medical history retrospectively and risk factors were determined by logistic regression analyses. The pulmonary complication score (PCS-LT) was established and validated for predicting pulmonary complications after LT. RESULTS: In the discovery data set, 47 (22.6%) participants experienced pulmonary complications following LT. Four independent risk factors for pulmonary complications were identified by multivariate logistic regression analysis, including preoperative abnormal pulmonary function (OR = 4.743, p < .001), elevated lymphocyte count (OR = 2.336, p = .027), hypoproteinemia (OR = 2.635, p = .030), and hypokalemia (OR = 5.257, p = .003), and PCS-LT based on these factors was established. ROC analyses showed PCS-LT could predict PC in both the discovery data set (area under curve [AUC] .752, 95% confidence interval [CI] .687-.809) and the validation data set (AUC .754, 95% CI, .666-.829). The PCS-LT demonstrated superior predictive value (AUC .735, 95% CI, .703-.799) to APACHE II score (AUC .653, 95% CI, .599-.705) in the combined data set (p = .032). Meanwhile, PCS-LT > 1 was used as the cut-off value and has prognostic significance in LT patients. CONCLUSIONS: The PCS-LT score, consisting of abnormal pulmonary function, elevated lymphocyte count, hypoproteinemia, and hypokalemia, could predict pulmonary complications after LT.

Pulmonary infection in traumatic brain injury patients undergoing tracheostomy: predicators and nursing care.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary infection is common yet serious complication in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (STBI). We aimed to evaluate the predicators of pulmonary infection in STBI patients undergoing tracheostomy, to provide evidence for the clinical nursing care of STBI patients. METHODS: This study was a retrospective cohort design. STBI patients undergoing tracheostomy treatment from January 1, 2019 to August 31, 2021 in our hospital were included. The characteristics of pulmonary infection and no pulmonary infection patients were analyzed. RESULTS: A total 216 STBI patients undergoing tracheostomy were included, the incidence of pulmonary infection was 26.85%. Diabetes (r = 0.782), hypoproteinemia (r = 0.804), duration of coma(r = 0.672), duration of mechanical ventilation(r = 0.724) and length of hospital stay (r = 0.655), length of hospital stay post tracheostomy (r = 0.554), mortality (r = 0.598) were all correlated with pulmonary infection (all p < 0.05). Klebsiella pneumoniae (33.87%) and Staphylococcus aureus (29.03%) were the most commonly seen pathogens in the pulmonary infection of TBI patients. Logistic regression analyses indicated that diabetes (OR 2.232, 95% CI 1.215-3.904), hypoproteinemia with plasma total protein < 60 g/L (OR 1.922, 95% CI 1.083-3.031), duration of coma ≥ 22 h (OR 2.864, 95% CI 1.344-5.012), duration of mechanical ventilation ≥ 5 days (OR 3.602, 95% CI 1.297-5.626), length of hospital stay ≥ 21 days (OR 2.048, 95% CI 1.022-3.859) were the risk factors of pulmonary infection in TBI patients undergoing tracheostomy (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Further investigations on the early preventions and treatments targeted on those risk factors are needed to reduce the pulmonary infection in clinical practice.

Protein-losing Enteropathy Complicated with Primary Intestinal Follicular Lymphoma.

Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is a rare syndrome characterized by hypoproteinemia due to gastrointestinal (GI) protein loss. Primary intestinal follicular lymphoma (PIFL), a specific variant of follicular lymphoma with essential only GI involvement, has not been reported as an etiology of PLE. We herein report a case of PLE complicated with PIFL that was successfully treated with rituximab, resulting in rapid improvement of PLE and a complete response of PIFL. Macroscopic findings of ulcerative lesions with diffuse involvement, which were precisely described by capsule and double-balloon enteroscopy at the diagnosis, also improved following the treatment. This case provides a clue suggesting factors that promote PLE in PIFL.

Is preoperative hypoproteinemia associated with colorectal cancer stage and postoperative complications?

Aim To investigate the relationship between preoperative level of serum albumin in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), stage of CRC and postoperative complications. Methods This cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted at the Clinic for General and Abdominal Surgery of the University Clinical Centre Sarajevo (UCCS). A total of 107 patients surgically treated for CRC in the period between 2013 and 2018 were enrolled in this study and divided into two groups: with hypoalbuminemia (group A) and without hypoalbuminemia (group B). Results The average level of albumin in group A was 29 (25-32) g/L versus 39 (37-41) g/L in group B (p<0.05). The average length of hospital stay in group A was 18 (13-25) days, and in group B 14.5 (12-21) days. Patients with hypoalbuminemia (group A) had wound dehiscence more often and more re-interventions compared to group B (p<0.05). Binary logistic regression found that serum protein, albumin and globulin levels were not statistically significant in the prediction of CRC stadium or postoperative complications (p>0.05). Conclusion Study results show that preoperatively measured levels of serum albumin are not associated with the stage of colorectal cancer and cannot serve as predictors for postoperative complications.

Hypoproteinemia predicts disease severity and mortality in COVID-19: a call for action.

Proteins represent the major building blocks of body tissues, and they regulate signaling involved in most cellular activities. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection has been associated with high fatality, especially among older adults. The main cause of death is pulmonary tissue damage and multiple organ failure. The disease is associated with a hypercatabolic state that entails excessive protein loss. This review commentary sheds the light on hypoproteinemia in symptomatic/hospitalized COVID-19 with a special emphasis on its pathophysiology, screening, as well as its contribution to disease severity and adverse effects.

Concurrent minimal change disease and retroperitoneal liposarcoma successfully treated by tumor resection and steroid therapy.

A 54-year-old Japanese woman developed simultaneous abdominal distension and bilateral leg edema. Her medical history and results of periodic medical check-up were unremarkable. Blood tests revealed severe hypoproteinemia and acute kidney injury, and urinalysis revealed 4+ proteinuria and 2+ hematuria. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a large intra-abdominal mass with fat tissue density. She underwent emergency tumor excision, splenectomy, and distal pancreatectomy. However, hypoproteinemia and acute kidney injury worsened. Therefore, she was transferred to the nephrology division for confirmation of diagnosis and for treatment of acute kidney injury and nephrotic syndrome. We conducted percutaneous kidney biopsy and diagnosed minimal change disease (MCD). Intravenous prednisolone was started, and heavy proteinuria and systemic edema were gradually alleviated. She achieved complete remission 2 months later, and oral prednisolone was tapered. Histopathological diagnosis of abdominal tumor was dedifferentiated liposarcoma of retroperitoneal origin. Immunohistochemical staining revealed strong expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in the tumor cells in the dedifferentiated component. Currently, her clinical course is stable without recurrence of liposarcoma and nephrotic syndrome. MCD develops in patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma, solid organ cancers, hematological malignancies, and thymoma, whereas concurrent MCD and liposarcoma are rare. Remission of nephrotic syndrome and normalized kidney function induced by steroid therapy are important for better management of patients with malignancy.

Clinical Characteristics and Analysis of Lung Cancer- Associated Acute Ischemic Stroke.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of lung cancer and acute ischemic stroke remains high in recent years, both of which occur mostly in people over 60 years old. In the present study, we aimed to further clarify the pathogenesis of lung cancer-associated acute ischemic stroke (LCA-AIS) by comparing and analyzing clinical characteristics of stroke patients with or without lung cancer. METHODS: A total of 51 patients with lung cancer were selected as the case group (LCSG), and 78 patients without cancer history were adopted as the control group (SG). The data collected in this study included sex, age, traditional cerebrovascular disease risk factors (TCDRFs), blood test index, imaging findings, etiological typing, and prognosis evaluation. SPSS21.0 software was used for statistical analysis. Normally distributed data were analyzed by t-test, and count data were analyzed by chi-square test or exact probability method. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: In the case group, the levels of plasma D-dimer, fibrinogen degradation products (FDPs) and NIHSS, as well as the mRS score and mortality of patients, were higher, while the levels of RBC, Hb and Hcy were lower compared with the control group. Imaging findings showed that multivessel involvement was more common in the case group, and the infarcts were more likely to be multiple and involved in both the anterior and posterior circulations. The TOAST classification of LCSG was dominated by stroke of undetermined etiology (SUE) and stroke of other determined etiology (SOE). Statistical analysis showed that the patients were more likely to suffer from acute ischemic stroke within 1 year after the diagnosis of lung cancer (41 cases, 80.39%). CONCLUSIONS: Hypercoagulability and acute multiple brain infarcts were more common in patients with LCA-AIS, and hypoproteinemia and hyponatremia were more likely to occur in these patients, leading to worse prognosis. Patients were most likely to have a stroke within 1 year after the diagnosis of lung cancer.

Life-threatening onset of coeliac disease: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Coeliac disease (CD) results from an immune-mediated reaction to gluten in genetically predisposed individuals. In rare cases CD may occur with acute features deferring the diagnosis and exposing these patients to possible life-threatening complications. Herein we present the case of a young woman with a coeliac crisis, that is, a sudden clinical onset characterised by severe electrolyte imbalance due to an unknown (previously unrecognised) CD. METHODS: This is a case report and literature review revealing that coeliac crisis is under-reported, with a total of 48 adult cases so far published. The diagnosis in our case was established by histopathological analysis of multiple duodenal biopsies. The patient's serum was tested by enzyme-linked immunoassay to detect antitransglutaminase IgA antibodies. RESULTS: In contrast to cases reported in the literature, with male gender predominance and a mean age of 50±17 years, our patient was a young female case of coeliac crisis. However, like in our patient, a higher incidence of coeliac crisis was associated with the human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ2 haplotype, versus HLA-DQ8, and a severe (Marsh-Oberhüber 3c) duodenal mucosa atrophy. Notably, there is no clear correlation between the antitissue transglutaminase 2 IgA antibody titre and coeliac crisis onset/severity, as confirmed by our case report. CONCLUSIONS: The present case highlights that CD may manifest quite abruptly with a severe malabsorption syndrome, that is, electrolyte abnormalities and hypoproteinaemia. Our case should alert physicians, in particular those in the emergency setting, that even a typically chronic disorder, such as CD, may show life-threatening complications requiring urgent management.

Effects of Nutritional Treatment on the Frequency of Pneumonia in Bedridden Patients Receiving Oral Care.

Objective Pneumonia develops in bedridden patients, even in those receiving oral care, and malnutrition is associated with the development of pneumonia. We examined the effects of nutritional treatment on the prevention of pneumonia. Patients and Methods We retrospectively examined the effects of nutritional treatment on the prevention of pneumonia by analyzing the records of bedridden patients (n=68; mean age: 68.0 years) who stayed in a hospital for 2 years or longer. Results Among the analyzed patients, pneumonia developed in 52 (76%) patients, and the mean frequency of pneumonia was 1.6 times per year during the first year of stay. In a multivariate analysis, the serum albumin level at admission in the pneumonia group was lower than that in the non-pneumonia group. The frequency of pneumonia during the second year of stay was lower than that during the first year of stay. Serum levels of albumin and total protein (TP) at one year after admission were higher than those at admission in all analyzed patients, and in all patients (n=52) and elderly (≥65 years) patients (n=31) in the pneumonia group. The proportions of patients with hypoalbuminemia (<3.5 g/dL) and hypoproteinemia (<6.5 g/dL) at one year after admission were lower than those at admission. The increases in the proportions of patients presenting a reduced frequency of pneumonia were correlated with increases in the proportions of patients presenting increased levels of albumin and/or TP. Conclusion Nutritional treatment may reduce the frequency of pneumonia by improving malnutrition in bedridden patients receiving oral care.

Protein losing gastroenteropathy due to Helicobacter pylori infection without giant rugal folds, erosion or polyposis.

An 85-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of progressive hypoproteinemia and generalised oedema. Technetium-99m human albumin scintigraphy revealed protein leakage in the gastrointestinal tract. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed small whitish nodules from the gastric body up to the duodenal bulb. The urease test for Helicobacter pylori infection was positive. We diagnosed her as having protein-losing gastroenteropathy (PLGE) caused by H. pylori infection. The patient's hypoproteinemia and clinical symptoms promptly resolved after H. pylori eradication. Our results suggest that a trial of H. pylori eradication is warranted in patients with PLGE, even if endoscopy reveals neither giant rugal folds, erosion of the mucosa, nor polyposis, which are previously reported characteristic endoscopic findings of PLGE.

Peritoneal Protein Loss, Leakage or Clearance In Peritoneal Dialysis, Where Do We Stand?

Peritoneal protein loss (PPL) through peritoneal effluent has been a well-recognized detrimental result of peritoneal dialysis (PD) treatment since its inception. Investigation has focused mainly on PPL quantitative and qualitative determinations and evaluation of its prognostic value.A comprehensive review of the pathophysiology of PPL (3-pore model revisited), methods of quantification, dialysate protein composition, and impact on clinical outcomes is presented herein. The author summarizes a brief analysis of associated cardiovascular disease and nutritional consequences, exploring the controversial cause-effect on mortality and technique failure.Therapeutic modalities aiming to reduce PPL (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors [ACEI]s and vitamin D therapies) were explored, although it is unclear whether PPL represents a valid therapeutic target or, on the other hand, is solely a manifestation of endothelial dysfunction.

Bowel Reconstruction to Treat Chronic Diarrhea and Hypoproteinemia Following Single Anastomosis Duodenal-Ileal Bypass with Sleeve Gastrectomy: a Single-Site Experience.

BACKGROUND: Single anastomosis duodenal-ileal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (SADI-S) is a modification of the biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS) surgery. A concern with SADI-S is chronic diarrhea and hypoproteinemia. Common channel lengthening (CCL) is a surgical procedure to increase absorption in the small intestine to decrease diarrhea. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence and treatment of hypoproteinemia and chronic diarrhea with CCL following SADI-S surgery. SETTING: Private practice in the USA. METHODS: Patients were included if they underwent SADI-S from September 2013 to March 2018 and following surgery underwent CCL. RESULTS: Average operating time for laparoscopic CCL is 56.5 ± 4.6 min. The average bowel movements for the eight patients before laparoscopic CCL were 9.1 ± 4.7 a day. After the surgery, the bowel movements were reduced to 2.6 ± 0.4 a day. This difference was found to be statistically significantly different (p = .002). The two patients experiencing hypoproteinemia improved protein levels following CCL. CONCLUSION: CCL is an effective way to treat symptomatic chronic diarrhea after SADI-S when conservative treatments have failed.

[Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia: first case report in Peru]. / Linfangiectasia intestinal primaria: primer reporte de caso en Perú.

Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia is a rare clinical condition of unknown etiology. The common age of presentation is during the first 3 years of life, but cases in adults have also been reported. It has a variable symptomatology, but the main clinical manifestation is edema, also diarrhea and weight loss can occur. The loss of lymph fluid into the gastrointestinal tract also leads to hypoproteinemia and lymphopenia. Diagnosis is based on clinical manifestations, laboratory and endoscopic findings, and is confirmed on histopathological examination of biopsy. The main treatment is a protein rich, low in fat and medium chain triglyceride diet. We present the case of a 1-year-old male patient who presents with generalized edema, predominantly in lower limbs, and diarrhea. Laboratory findings show the presence of marked hypoproteinemia. Then an endoscopy and a duodenal biopsy are performed, and the histopathological study confirms the diagnosis of primary intestinal lymphangiectasia. The patient is treated and after a satisfactory evolution, is discharged.

Linfangiectasia intestinal primaria: primer reporte de caso en Perú / Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia: first case report in Peru

La linfangiectasia intestinal primaria es una entidad clínica poco común de etiología desconocida. La edad típica de presentación de esta enfermedad es durante los 3 primeros años de vida, pero también se han reportado casos en adultos. Posee sintomatología variable, pero la manifestación clínica principal es el edema, puede presentarse también diarrea y pérdida de peso. La pérdida de fluido linfático en el tracto gastointestinal conlleva también a hipoproteinemia y linfopenia. El diagnóstico se establece en base a la clínica, a los estudios de laboratorio, al estudio endoscópico y se confirma con la evaluación histológica de la biopsia realizada. El manejo se da mediante una dieta rica en proteínas, baja en grasas y triglicéridos de cadena media. A continuación, se presenta el caso de un paciente varón de 1 año de edad que presenta edema generalizado, con predominio de miembros inferiores, y diarrea. Los exámenes de laboratorio muestran la presencia de hipoproteinemia marcada. Posteriormente, se realiza una endoscopía digestiva alta y una biopsia duodenal. El estudio histológico confirma el diagnóstico de linfangiectasia intestinal primaria. El paciente recibe el tratamiento establecido para esta enfermedad y, finalmente es dado de alta.

Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia is a rare clinical condition of unknown etiology. The common age of presentation is during the first 3 years of life, but cases in adults have also been reported. It has a variable symptomatology, but the main clinical manifestation is edema, also diarrhea and weight loss can occur. The loss of lymph fluid into the gastrointestinal tract also leads to hypoproteinemia and lymphopenia. Diagnosis is based on clinical manifestations, laboratory and endoscopic findings, and is confirmed on histopathological examination of biopsy. The main treatment is a protein rich, low in fat and medium chain triglyceride diet. We present the case of a 1-year-old male patient who presents with generalized edema, predominantly in lower limbs, and diarrhea. Laboratory findings show the presence of marked hypoproteinemia. Then an endoscopy and a duodenal biopsy are performed, and the histopathological study confirms the diagnosis of primary intestinal lymphangiectasia. The patient is treated and after a satisfactory evolution, is discharged.

Analysis of clinical characteristics and prognosis factors of 71 cases with HIV-negative Castleman's disease: hypoproteinemia is an unfavorable prognostic factor which should be treated appropriately.

PURPOSE: HIV negative Castleman's disease has been reported as a group of poorly understood lymphoproliferative disorder, and we want to explore the clinical feature and prognosis factors of CD. METHODS: We retrospectively collected the clinical information of 71 CD patients without HIV infection diagnosed in the first affiliated hospital of Zhengzhou university. RESULTS: Different clinical classifications, including 35 patients (49.30%) with unicentric Castleman disease and 36 (50.7%) with multicentric Castleman disease, has their specific features compared with each other and unfavorable risk factors calculated by the univariate analysis. As for all of CD patients without HIV infection, there were 7 significant risk factors identified by the results of log-rank test, including clinical complaint, edema (hydrothorax, ascites, pelvic effusion), fatigue, anemia, hypoproteinemia and elevated serum ß2-MG. Then, we created a Cox regression model of these clinical and statistic significant factors which indicated hypoproteinemia was an independent poor prognosis factors of CD in both univariate and multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Our study emphasized the distinction of clinical characteristics between UCD and MCD and the importance of different poor risk factors of different clinical classifications which may directed more precise and appropriate treatment strategy.

A case of acute Sheehan's syndrome and literature review: a rare but life-threatening complication of postpartum hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Sheehan's syndrome occurs because of severe postpartum hemorrhage causing ischemic pituitary necrosis. Sheehan's syndrome is a well-known condition that is generally diagnosed several years postpartum. However, acute Sheehan's syndrome is rare, and clinicians have little exposure to it. It can be life-threatening. There have been no reviews of acute Sheehan's syndrome and no reports of successful pregnancies after acute Sheehan's syndrome. We present such a case, and to understand this rare condition, we have reviewed and discussed the literature pertaining to it. An electronic search for acute Sheehan's syndrome in the literature from January 1990 and May 2014 was performed. CASE PRESENTATION: A 27-year-old woman had massive postpartum hemorrhage (approximately 5000 mL) at her first delivery due to atonic bleeding. She was transfused and treated with uterine embolization, which successfully stopped the bleeding. The postpartum period was uncomplicated through day 7 following the hemorrhage. However, on day 8, the patient had sudden onset of seizures and subsequently became comatose. Laboratory results revealed hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia, hypoprolactinemia, and adrenal insufficiency. Thus, the patient was diagnosed with acute Sheehan's syndrome. Following treatment with thyroxine and hydrocortisone, her condition improved, and she was discharged on day 24. Her next pregnancy was established 2 years after her first delivery. She required induction of ovulation for the next conception. The pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum period were uneventful. An electronic search of the literature yielded 21 cases of acute Sheehan's syndrome. Presenting signs varied, including adrenal insufficiency (12 cases), diabetes insipidus (4 cases), hypothyroidism (2 cases), and panhypopituitarism (3 cases), with a median time of presentation after delivery for each of those conditions being 7.9, 4, 18, and 9 days, respectively. Serial changes in magnetic resonance imaging were reported in some cases of acute Sheehan's syndrome. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should be aware of the risk of acute Sheehan's syndrome after a massive postpartum hemorrhage in order to diagnose it accurately and treat it promptly.

Severe hypoproteinemia as a harbinger of Ménétrier's disease in autoimmune pancreatitis.

Ménétrier's disease is an extremely rare disease of unknown etiology causing gastric mucosal hypertrophy and protein-losing gastropathy. Rare cases of this condition have been reported in patients with autoimmune diseases. However, to the best of our knowledge, Ménétrier's disease associated with autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) has never been reported. We described a case of severe hypoproteinemia as a harbinger of Ménétrier's disease associated with AIP. The patient was successfully treated with octreotide and high-protein diet, which led to symptomatic remission and significant improvement in serum levels of albumin and recovery of the nutritional status. Thus, in AIP patients presenting with severe and persistent hypoproteinemia without apparent cause, clinicians need to consider Ménétrier's disease in the differential diagnosis. In this setting, endoscopic evaluation with histological examination of gastric biopsy material, including a full-thickness mucosal biopsy of involved mucosa, may be helpful in promptly establishing the diagnosis and allowing appropriate and timely therapy.

[Protein-losing enteropathy]. / Enteropatiya s poterei belka.

Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is a rare complication of intestinal diseases. Its main manifestation is hypoproteinemic edema. The diagnosis of PLE is based on the verification of protein loss into the intestinal lumen, by determining fecal α1-antitrypsin concentration and clearance. The localization of the affected colonic segment is clarified using radiologic and endoscopic techniques. The mainstay of treatment for PLE is a fat-free diet enriched with medium-chain triglycerides. Surgical resection of the affected segment of the colon may be the treatment of choice for severe hypoproteinemia resistant to drug therapy.