Protein-losing enteropathy and trichuriasis - abstract

ABSTRACT

The phenomenon of protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is defined as the abnormal loss of serum proteins into the gastrointestinal tract resulting from a variety of gastrointestinal abnormalities. Infestation of the large bowel and terminal ileum by adult Trichuris trichiura results in inflammatory reactions surrounding the sites of attachment. This study establishes Trichuris dysentery syndrome as one of the clinical disorders characterized by PLE. The clearance by the gut alpha-1-antitrypsin (OAT), a serum protein that resists proteolysis by digestive enzymes, was assessed in (i) subjects infected by the parasitic nematode and presenting with the Trichuris dysentery syndrome, and (ii) subjects manifesting no gastrointestinal diseases nor having conditions or receiving drugs likely to cause PLE. All subjects were within the age range 3 through 11 years, inclusive. A linear regression analysis showed a significant correlation between clearance of O AT and adult worm count (r = 0.4, p<0.05). The daily loss of this amount of serum protein is likely to be a considerable part of the cost to the host of this chronic parasitic infection (AU)