Loading…

Serum cholesterol in idiopathic and lupus-related protein-losing enteropathy

Abstract The characteristics of protein-losing enteropathy were evaluated in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Among the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (n = 380) in a tertiary hospital, we reviewed the records of seven patients with generalized edema, hypoalbuminemia without pr...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Lupus 2008-06, Vol.17 (6), p.575-579
Main Authors: Kim, YG, Lee, C-K, Byeon, J-S, Myung, S-J, Oh, JS, Nah, S-S, Moon, H-B, Yoo, B
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Abstract The characteristics of protein-losing enteropathy were evaluated in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Among the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (n = 380) in a tertiary hospital, we reviewed the records of seven patients with generalized edema, hypoalbuminemia without proteinuria and positive results on 99mTc-labelled human serum albumin scintigrams. Patient characteristics and laboratory findings were compared between these seven patients and patients with lupus enteritis (n = 15) or idiopathic protein-losing enteropathy (n = 11). Compared with the lupus enteritis patients, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and serum total cholesterol levels were significantly increased in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus–related protein-losing enteropathy. Compared with idiopathic protein-losing enteropathy patients, the level of serum total cholesterol was significantly increased, but the level of serum albumin was decreased in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus–related protein-losing enteropathy. Among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus–related protein-losing enteropathy, four patients had high serum total cholesterol levels (≥248 mg/dL) and achieved complete remission after receiving high doses of steroid treatment. However, three patients who had low serum total cholesterol levels (≤219 mg/dL) responded poorly to the steroid-only treatment, and could achieve complete remission only after 3 months of cyclophosphamide pulse treatment with concurrent corticosteroid therapy. The levels of serum total cholesterol are intriguing feature in systemic lupus erythematosus–associated protein-losing enteropathy patients.
ISSN:0961-2033
1477-0962
DOI:10.1177/0961203307087407