Protein losing enteropathy (PLE) is a syndrome in which

blood proteins Plasma proteins, sometimes referred to as blood proteins, are proteins present in blood plasma. They perform many different functions, including transport of hormones, vitamins and minerals in activity and functioning of the immune system. Other ...

are lost excessively via the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It may be caused by many different underlying diseases that damage the lining of the GI tract (

mucosa A mucous membrane or mucosa is a membrane that lines various cavities in the body of an organism and covers the surface of internal organs. It consists of one or more layers of epithelial cells overlying a layer of loose connective tissue. It ...

) or cause blockage of its lymphatic drainage.

Signs and symptoms

The signs and symptoms of protein losing

enteropathy Enteropathy refers to any pathology of the intestine. Although enteritis specifically refers to an inflammation of the intestine, and is thus a more specific term than "enteropathy", the two terms are sometimes used interchangeably. __TOC__ Types ...

include diarrhea, fever, and general abdominal discomfort. Swelling of the legs due to

peripheral edema Peripheral edema is edema (accumulation of fluid causing swelling) in tissues perfused by the peripheral vascular system, usually in the lower limbs. In the most dependent parts of the body (those hanging distally), it may be called dependent ede ...

can also occur; however, if the PLE is related to a systemic disease such as

congestive heart failure Heart failure (HF), also known as congestive heart failure (CHF), is a syndrome caused by an impairment in the heart's ability to fill with and pump blood. Although symptoms vary based on which side of the heart is affected, HF typically pr ...

constrictive pericarditis Constrictive pericarditis is a condition characterized by a thickened, fibrotic pericardium, limiting the heart's ability to function normally. In many cases, the condition continues to be difficult to diagnose and therefore benefits from a good ...

, then these symptoms could be due directly to the underlying illness. In severe cases,

anasarca Anasarca is a severe and generalized form of edema, with subcutaneous tissue swelling throughout the body. Unlike typical edema, which almost everyone will experience at some time and can be relatively benign, anasarca is a pathological process r ...

, a generalized form of edema, may develop.

Causes

The causes of protein-losing enteropathy can include GI conditions (among other causes), like the following:

Mechanism

The pathophysiology of protein losing enteropathy is a result of plasma protein loss to the GI tract lumen. PLE is a complication of a disorder, be it lymphatic obstruction or mucosal injury. Protein losing enteropathy is a syndrome, characterized by a collection of signs and symptoms that are due to an underlying primary medical condition. Thus, there are many different pathophysiologic mechanisms of intestinal protein loss. Erosive disease, is characterized by mucosal damage or erosions of the colon

intestinal epithelium The intestinal epithelium is the single cell layer that forms the luminal surface (lining) of both the small and large intestine (colon) of the gastrointestinal tract. Composed of simple columnar epithelium its main functions are absorptio ...

and

capillary A capillary is a small blood vessel, from 5 to 10 micrometres in diameter, and is part of the microcirculation system. Capillaries are microvessels and the smallest blood vessels in the body. They are composed of only the tunica intima (the inn ...

bed underlying the epithelium, leading to a leakage of proteins from the capillaries into the

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