PROTEIN-LOSING ENTEROPATHY AFTER INFECTIOUS ENTEROCOLITIS IN CHILD – A CASE REPORT AND A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Abstract

Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) represents an abnormal protein loss at the level of the digestive tract mucosa, being in most of the cases secondary to other gastrointestinal or extraintestinal pathologies. Nevertheless, there also are primary causes, genetic ones associated with PLE. We present the case of a small female child, 1 year and 1 month-old, with a history of infectious enterocolitis determined by Escherichia coli enteropathogenic, who presented palpebral edemas, especially in the morning for approximately 1 week. The laboratory tests revealed hypoalbuminemia, type A and G hypogammaglobulinemia, leukocytosis with eosinophilia, and anemia. The test for the detection of occult hemorrhages from feces was positive, likewise the fecal calprotectin and level of alpha-1 antitrypsin. We identified also allergy to cow’s milk protein, which we interpreted as being secondary to the intestinal pathology. Thus, we established the diagnosis of protein losing enteropathy after an episode of acute enterocolitis caused by E. coli enteropathogenic, and we administered substitutive treatment with human albumin and steroids, with favorable evolution. The particularity of the case consists in diagnosing a severe case of protein-losing enteropathy in a small child, with palpebral edema, predominantly during the morning, and decreased levels of serum albumin, after an episode of acute enterocolitis caused by E. coli enteropathogenic, which remitted without etiologic treatment.