1. [Protein-losing enteropathy: a cause of hypoalbuminaemia in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus].
- Author
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Xanthouli P, Mühleisen H, Briem S, Weis D, and Fiehn C
- Subjects
- Adult, Anti-Inflammatory Agents therapeutic use, Antimetabolites therapeutic use, Azathioprine therapeutic use, Female, Humans, Prednisolone therapeutic use, Protein-Losing Enteropathies prevention & control, Treatment Outcome, Hypoalbuminemia drug therapy, Hypoalbuminemia etiology, Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic complications, Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic drug therapy, Protein-Losing Enteropathies complications
- Abstract
Lupus nephritis is the most common cause of extended edema and hypoalbuminemia in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, the same immune complex mechanisms which lead to renal protein loss can also be active in the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in severe hypoproteinemia through enteral protein loss. The case of a young female patient with otherwise mild SLE and severe hypoproteinemia through bowel manifestation of the disease is presented here. No gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhoea were present, but immunohistology of the smaller and larger bowel showed severe immunocomplex disease with focus on the submucosa and the basal membrane. Other causes of hypoproteinemia were excluded. Treatment with prednisolone and azathioprine led to fast and durable resolution of symptoms.
- Published
- 2011
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