Protein Losing Enteropathy

 Protein losing Enteropathy 

- Increased GI losses of proteins of all molecular weights (alb and glob)
- Causes: mucosal injury / increased mucosal permeability / lymphatic obstruction

- Very wide differential diagnosis (see UTD)

- UGI / colonoscopy - duodenal biopsy reasonable. May need X-sectional imaging of small bowel such as MRE / Capsule too

- Symptoms - doesnt have to cause diarrhoea / bloating

- Inv: Alpha-1 anti-trypsin in stool - It is a globulin protein made in liver, secreted in GI tract, which is 'resistant to proteolysis', except by acid in stoamch (eg in case of Menteriers disease)

- Needs 24 hr stool collection (refer to UTD for normal values)

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