Clinical Features of Protein-Losing Enteropathy | Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

 

Occasionally the onset of the enteropathy may be the first sign of SLE.

 

Most affected patients are young females.

 

Clinical features:

(1) low serum albumin

(2) peripheral edema, includng anasarca

(3) elevation of the alpha-1-antitrypsin clearance in the stool

(4) improvement following the initiation of therapy directed against SLE-related protein-losing enteropathy

 

Exclusions:

(1) absence of nephropathy

(2) absence of protein malnutrition

(3) no or mild constrictive pericarditis (not severe enough to explain the protein loss)

(4) absence of chronic liver disease

(5) absence of steatorrhea

(6) absence of intestinal lymphangiectasia

 

Variable findings:

(1) diarrhea

(2) nausea and/or vomiting

(3) malaise and/or fatigue

(4) low serum complement

(5) elevated serum cholesterol