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Case report
Protein-losing enteropathy as precursor of inflammatory bowel disease: a review of the literature
  1. Fritz Ruprecht Murray,
  2. Bernhard Morell,
  3. Luc Biedermann and
  4. Philipp Schreiner
  1. Department for Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
  1. Correspondence to Dr Fritz Ruprecht Murray; fritz.murray{at}usz.ch

Abstract

We report the case of a 63-year-old female patient with liver cirrhosis who presented with symptoms of severe hypoalbuminaemia and diarrhoea. After ruling out other causes of hypoalbuminaemia and confirmation of an elevated faecal α-1 antitrypsin clearance, the diagnosis of protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) could be established. Since PLE is a syndrome caused by various diseases, classified into erosive and non-erosive gastrointestinal diseases or lymphatic obstruction, an extensive work-up was necessary, establishing the final diagnosis of Crohn’s disease.

  • endoscopy
  • Crohn's disease
  • malabsorption
  • general practice / family medicine
  • inflammatory bowel disease

https://doi.org/10.1136/bcr-2020-238802

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    Footnotes

    • Contributors FRM: substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work, drafting the work and approved the final version. BM: interpretation of data for the work, revising it critically for important intellectual content and approved the final version. LB: interpretation of data for the work, revising it critically for important intellectual content and approved the final version. PS: substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work, drafting the work and approved the final version.

    • Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

    • Competing interests None declared.

    • Patient consent for publication Obtained.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.