Linfangiectasia intestinal primaria: primer reporte de caso en Perú / Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia: first case report in Peru

La linfangiectasia intestinal primaria es una entidad clínica poco común de etiología desconocida. La edad típica de presentación de esta enfermedad es durante los 3 primeros años de vida, pero también se han reportado casos en adultos. Posee sintomatología variable, pero la manifestación clínica principal es el edema, puede presentarse también diarrea y pérdida de peso. La pérdida de fluido linfático en el tracto gastointestinal conlleva también a hipoproteinemia y linfopenia. El diagnóstico se establece en base a la clínica, a los estudios de laboratorio, al estudio endoscópico y se confirma con la evaluación histológica de la biopsia realizada. El manejo se da mediante una dieta rica en proteínas, baja en grasas y triglicéridos de cadena media. A continuación, se presenta el caso de un paciente varón de 1 año de edad que presenta edema generalizado, con predominio de miembros inferiores, y diarrea. Los exámenes de laboratorio muestran la presencia de hipoproteinemia marcada. Posteriormente, se realiza una endoscopía digestiva alta y una biopsia duodenal. El estudio histológico confirma el diagnóstico de linfangiectasia intestinal primaria. El paciente recibe el tratamiento establecido para esta enfermedad y, finalmente es dado de alta.

Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia is a rare clinical condition of unknown etiology. The common age of presentation is during the first 3 years of life, but cases in adults have also been reported. It has a variable symptomatology, but the main clinical manifestation is edema, also diarrhea and weight loss can occur. The loss of lymph fluid into the gastrointestinal tract also leads to hypoproteinemia and lymphopenia. Diagnosis is based on clinical manifestations, laboratory and endoscopic findings, and is confirmed on histopathological examination of biopsy. The main treatment is a protein rich, low in fat and medium chain triglyceride diet. We present the case of a 1-year-old male patient who presents with generalized edema, predominantly in lower limbs, and diarrhea. Laboratory findings show the presence of marked hypoproteinemia. Then an endoscopy and a duodenal biopsy are performed, and the histopathological study confirms the diagnosis of primary intestinal lymphangiectasia. The patient is treated and after a satisfactory evolution, is discharged.

Spectrum of malabsorption syndrome among adults & factors differentiating celiac disease & tropical malabsorption.

Background & objectives: Aetiology of malabsorption syndrome (MAS) differs in tropical and temperate countries over time; clinical and laboratory parameters may differentiate between various causes. This study was undertaken to investigate the spectrum of MAS among Indian adults and to find out the features that may help to differentiate between TM and celiac disease. Methods: Causes of MAS, and factors differentiating tropical malabsorption (TM) from celiac disease (CD) were determined in 275 patients. Results: Using standard criteria, causes in 275 patients [age 37.5+13.2 yr, 170, (61.5%) male] were, TM 101 (37%), CD 53 (19%), small intestinal bacterial overgrowth 28 (10%), AIDS 15 (5.4%), giardiasis 13 (5%), hypogammaglobulinemia 12 (4%), intestinal tuberculosis 7 (2.5%), strongyloidiasis 6 (2%), immunoproliferative small intestinal disease 5 (2%), Crohn's disease 6 (2%), amyloidosis 4 (1.5%), intestinal lymphangiectasia 3 (1%) and unknown 22 (8%). On univariate analysis, patients with CD were younger than TM (30.6+12 vs. 39.3+12.6 yr, P<0.001), had lower body weight (41.3+11.8 vs. 49.9+11.2 kg, P<0.001), longer diarrhoea duration (median 36 inter-quartile range 17.8-120 vs. 24-months, 8-48, P<0.01), lower stool frequency (6/day, 5-8 vs. 8, 5-10, P<0.05), lower haemoglobin (9.4+3.2 vs. 10.4+2.7 g/dl, P<0.05), higher platelet count (2,58,000, range 1,35,500-3,23,500 vs. 1,60,000, 1,26,000-2,58,000/mm3, P<0.05), and more often had hepatomegaly (9/53, 17% vs. 4/101, 4%, P<0.01), and subtotal or partial villous atrophy (36/50, 72% vs. 28/87, 32%, P<0.001). Younger age (<35 yr), longer diarrhoea duration, higher platelet count and villous atrophy were significant on multivariate analysis. Interpretation & conclusions: TM and CD are common causes of MAS among Indian adults. Younger age (<35 yr), longer diarrhoea duration, higher platelet count and villous atrophy were found to be associated with CD.

Doença celíaca associada à tireoidite de Hashimoto e síndrome de Noonan / Celiac disease associated with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Noonan syndrome

OBJETIVO: Relatar o caso clínico de uma criança portadora de doença celíaca, tireoidite de Hashimoto e síndrome de Noonan. DESCRIÇÃO DE CASO: Menina de dez anos e seis meses, branca, apresentando história de diarreia líquida há cinco meses e "aumento da barriga". Ao exame, mostrava peso de 20.580g (p<3), estatura de 114cm (p<3), hidratada, descorada 2+/4+ e consciente. Presença de fácies triangular, com hipertelorismo ocular aparente, posição antimongoloide das fendas palpebrais, orelhas em abano de baixa implantação, micrognatia, pescoço curto e pectus excavatum. O abdome mostrava-se globoso, flácido, indolor, com hérnia umbilical, fígado a 2cm do rebordo costal direito, linfedema em membro superior direito e edema de membros inferiores. Nos exames subsidiários, havia anemia microcítica e hipocrômica, déficit de proteínas totais, tireoidite de Hashimoto e atraso de cinco anos na idade óssea. Na ultrassonografia abdominal, as alças intestinais estavam levemente dilatadas. Devido ao linfedema e à diarreia crônica, a hipótese inicial foi de linfangiectasia intestinal, confirmada pela biópsia jejunal, que ainda mostrou padrão compatível de doença celíaca. O cariótipo foi 46XX com diagnóstico clínico de síndrome de Noonan. COMENTÁRIOS: As doenças autoimunes se associam; no caso apresentado, a doença celíaca se associou à tireoidite de Hashimoto, possivelmente pela presença de antígenos do sistema HLA. Já a associação de doença celíaca à síndrome de Noonan é muito rara, sendo este o terceiro relato na literatura.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical case of a child with celiac disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and Noonan syndrome. CASE DESCRIPTION: A Caucasian girl aged ten years and six months had liquid diarrhea for five months, and a "distended belly". At the physical exam: weight of 20,580g (p<3), length of 114cm (p<3), hydrated, anemic 2+/4+ and conscious. The patient presented triangular facies, apparent ocular hypertelorism, antimongoloid position of the palpebral fissures, ears with low implantation, micrognathia, short neck and pectus excavatum. The abdomen was globular, flaccid and painless; the liver was 2cm below the right costal margin. Lymphedema in right upper limb and lower limb edema was also noted. Laboratory exams showed microcytic and hypochromic anemia, deficit of total proteins, Hashimoto's thyroiditis and a 5-year delay in bone age. Abdominal ultrasonography showed the bowel slightly dilated. Due to lymphedema and chronic diarrhea, the initial hypothesis was intestinal lymphangiectasis, which was confirmed by a jejunal biopsy, which also showed celiac disease. The genetic evaluation revealed a 46XX karyotype and a clinical diagnosis of Noonan syndrome. COMMENTS: Different autoimmune diseases can be associated. In this case, the celiac disease and the Hashimoto's thyroiditis are possibly related to the presence of HLA system antigens. However, the association of the celiac disease with the Noonan syndrome is very rare, and this is the third report in the literature.

Lymphangiectasia of small intestine presenting as intussusception.

Intussusception is defined as telescoping of a segment of gastrointestinal tract into an adjacent one. In small children, it is the commonest cause of intestinal obstruction. More than 90% of childhood intussusceptions are idiopathic. We report a rare case of localized small intestinal lymphangiectasia, presenting as intussusception in a 6-month-old male child. The child presented with features of acute intestinal obstruction for which he was later operated. The gross examination of excised ileocecal mass revealed intussusception. Histopathologic examination revealed lymphangiectasia of small intestine, which acted as a lead point for ileocecal intussusception. Postoperative period was uneventful.

Congenital intestinal lymphangiectasia: report of a case

Congenital intestinal lymphangiectasia is a rare protein-losing enteropathy that usually affects children and young adults. Major symptoms include peripheral edema, mild non-bloody diarrhea, and chylous effusions that may develop during the course of the disease. In this disorder intestinal lymphatic vessels show fibrous occlusions that lead to pressure elevation of the lymphatic flow and rupture of the small lymphatic vessels. Transudation of lymph fluid into the different layers of the intestinal wall and lumen then occurs

Hemihypertrophy and primary small intestinal lymphangiectasia in incontinentia pigmenti achromians.

A rare occurrence of primary small intestinal lymphangiectasia in an 8-year-old girl with incontinentia pigmenti achromians is reported. In addition, she had right sided hemihypertrophy. Though intestinal lymphangiectasia is known to have a few syndromic associations, its co-existence in a child with incontinentia pigmenti achromians has not yet been reported in the literature. Hemihypertrophy is also extremely rare in the latter and only very few instances of an association between the two have been documented previously.

Gastroenteropatias perdedoras de proteínas: comprovaçäo pelo teste de excreçäo fecal da albumina-51 Cr em 50 casos de diferentes etiologias / Protein-losing gastroentheropathis: evidence through fecal excretion test of 51 Cr-albumin in 50 cases of different etiologies

Entre setembro de 1976 e dezembro de 1986, determinou-se a excreçäo fecal de radioatividade após injeçäo intravenosa da albumina Cr, para detecçäo e medida da perda gastrointestinal de proteínas, em 128 testes realizados em um grupo de 116 pacientes. Destes, 20 eram controles, 38 tinham suspeita clínica da gastroenteropatia perdedora de proteínas e 58 apresentavam doenças presumivelmente associadas a perda protéica digestiva. Os resultados obtidos no grupo controle permitiram definir o limite superior de normalidade do exame em 2,6% da radioatividade administrada. Valores anormais foram encontrados em 23 dos 38 casos com evidências clínicas da gastroenteropatioa perdedora de proteínas, em 12 dos quais haviam alteraçöes primárias ou secundárias do sistema linfático. No subgrupo de pacientes com doenças associadas à perda protéica digestiva, valores anormais da excreçäo fecal da albumina Cr foram encontrados em 11 dos 19 pacientes com paracoccidioidomicose, em quatro dos 14 pacientes com hipertensäo portal esquistossomótica, em cinco dos 14 pacientes com insuficiência cardíaca congestiva crônica e em sete dos 11 pacientes com diferentes afecçöes primárias do tubo digestivo. Os resultados do teste da excreçäo fecal da albumina Cr apresentaram boa correlaçäo com os valores da medida do clearance gastrointestinal de proteínas plasmáticas e tiveram compatibilizaçäo satisfatória om outros dados de ordem clínica e laboratorial. Os 50 casos em que se comprovou perda excessiva de proteínas pelo trato gastrointestinal, em seu conjunto, ilustraram a grande diversidade das doenças que causam esta anormalidade, muitas delas sendo muito comuns em nosso meio, bem como evidenciaram a importância das afecçöes que acometem o sistema linfático como causa das gastroenteropatias perdedoras de proteínas