Protein-losing enteropathy as the principal manifestation of constrictive pericarditis.

Nikolaidis, Nikolaos; Tziomalos, Konstantinos; Giouleme, Olga; Gkisakis, Dimitrios; Kokkinomagoulou, Amalia; Karatzas, Nikolaos; Papanikolaou, Athanassios; Tsitourides, Ioannis et al. · J Gen Intern Med · 2005

case_report · Level V

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Abstract

Constrictive pericarditis represents a rare cause of protein-losing enteropathy due to intestinal lymphangiectasia. We report the case of a patient with an atypical clinical presentation of constrictive pericarditis and protein-losing enteropathy as its principal manifestation; he was successfully treated with pericardiectomy. We conclude that, constrictive pericarditis should be considered in the presence of protein losing enteropathy and also, protein-losing enteropathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis of hypoalbuminemia.

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