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Protein-losing enteropathy: integrating a new disease paradigm into recommendations for prevention and treatment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 February 2011

Jeffery Meadows  and
Kathy Jenkins
Jeffery Meadows*
Affiliation:
Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University of California, San Francisco, California, United States of America
Kathy Jenkins
Affiliation:
Department of Cardiology, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
*
Correspondence to: J. Meadows, MD, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, 505 Parnassus Avenue, Box 0632, San Francisco, California 94143-4144, United States of America. Tel: 415 476 4904; Fax: 415 476 3112; E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Protein-losing enteropathy is a relatively uncommon complication of Fontan procedures for palliation of complex congenital cardiac disease. However, the relative infrequency of protein-losing enteropathy belies the tremendous medical, psychosocial and financial burdens it places upon afflicted patients, their families and the healthcare system that supports them. Unfortunately, because of the complexity and rarity of this disease process, the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of protein-losing enteropathy remain poorly understood, and attempts at treatment seldom yield long-term success. The most comprehensive analyses of protein-losing enteropathy in this patient population are now over a decade old, and re-evaluation of the prevalence and progress in treatment of this disease is needed. This report describes a single institution experience with the evaluation, management, and treatment of protein-losing enteropathy in patients with congenital cardiac disease in the current era, follows with a comprehensive review of protein-losing enteropathy, focused upon what is known and not known about the pathophysiology of protein-losing enteropathy in this patient population, and concludes with suggestions for prevention and treatment.

Keywords

LymphaticFontansingle ventricle
Type
Review Article
Information
Cardiology in the Young , Volume 21 , Issue 4 , 12 July 2011 , pp. 363 - 377
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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