Authors: Ridwaan Albeiruti1*, MD, Patrick Gleeson2, MD, Theodore Kelbel3, MD, Tracy Fausnight, MD3
Author Affiliations:
1Department of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV; Department of Internal Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA; 2Department of Internal Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA; 3Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, Spectrum Health, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
*Corresponding Author: Ridwaan Albeiruti; albeiru4@msu.edu
Key Words: primary intestinal lymphangiectasia; Waldmann’s disease; protein-losing enteropathy
Abstract:
Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia (Waldmann’s disease) is a rare protein-losing enteropathy which is mostly seen in young children. A 22-month-old male baby presented with a 1-week history of abdominal distension, chronic loose stools, recurrent ear infections, and failure to thrive. He had edematous eyelids and non-pitting edema of his hands and feet. The patient was diagnosed via endoscopic visualization and biopsy of the lymphangiectasia in the small bowel. He was managed through dietary restriction with a high-protein, low-fat diet. The patient subsequently had resolution of the diarrhea and an increase in albumin and total protein on labs. We describe a rare case of primary intestinal lymphangiectasia and highlight its clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment.
Published: Spring, 2019
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