Elderly Onset Primary Intestinal Lymphangiectasia—A Rare Case
ABSTRACT Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia (PIL) is a rare protein‐losing gastroenteropathy characterized by diffuse or localized ectasia of the enteric lymphatics, which can be accompanied by lymphatic abnormalities in other parts of the body. This condition results in hypoalbuminemia, hypogammag...
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Wiley
2025-01-01
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| Series: | JGH Open |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/jgh3.70102 |
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| author | Li‐Han Goh Madhavan Manoharan Khean‐Lee Goh |
| author_facet | Li‐Han Goh Madhavan Manoharan Khean‐Lee Goh |
| author_sort | Li‐Han Goh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia (PIL) is a rare protein‐losing gastroenteropathy characterized by diffuse or localized ectasia of the enteric lymphatics, which can be accompanied by lymphatic abnormalities in other parts of the body. This condition results in hypoalbuminemia, hypogammaglobulinemia, and lymphopenia due to the abnormal leakage of lymphatic fluid into the gastrointestinal tract. As there are no specific serological or radiological tests available, the gold standard for diagnosing intestinal lymphangiectasia is endoscopic examination with histopathological examination of intestinal biopsy specimens. We present a rare case of primary intestinal lymphangiectasia in a 62‐year‐old Chinese woman who presented with a six‐month history of lethargy, persistent diarrhea, and progressive weight loss. Gastroscopy and colonoscopy were performed, and biopsies revealed dilated intestinal lymphatics with broadened villi in the small intestine. Secondary causes of intestinal lymphangiectasia were ruled out, confirming the diagnosis of PIL. The patient was treated with a high‐protein, low‐fat diet supplemented with medium‐chain triglycerides, resulting in significant clinical improvement. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7e4ba7f9fa3f4c63824c74c2073aa51e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2397-9070 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JGH Open |
| spelling | doaj-art-7e4ba7f9fa3f4c63824c74c2073aa51e2025-01-28T09:24:32ZengWileyJGH Open2397-90702025-01-0191n/an/a10.1002/jgh3.70102Elderly Onset Primary Intestinal Lymphangiectasia—A Rare CaseLi‐Han Goh0Madhavan Manoharan1Khean‐Lee Goh2Faculty of Medicine, St Vincent's Clinical School The University of New South Wales Sydney New South Wales AustraliaInnoquest Pathology Sdn Bhd Petaling Jaya MalaysiaFaculty of Medicine University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur MalaysiaABSTRACT Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia (PIL) is a rare protein‐losing gastroenteropathy characterized by diffuse or localized ectasia of the enteric lymphatics, which can be accompanied by lymphatic abnormalities in other parts of the body. This condition results in hypoalbuminemia, hypogammaglobulinemia, and lymphopenia due to the abnormal leakage of lymphatic fluid into the gastrointestinal tract. As there are no specific serological or radiological tests available, the gold standard for diagnosing intestinal lymphangiectasia is endoscopic examination with histopathological examination of intestinal biopsy specimens. We present a rare case of primary intestinal lymphangiectasia in a 62‐year‐old Chinese woman who presented with a six‐month history of lethargy, persistent diarrhea, and progressive weight loss. Gastroscopy and colonoscopy were performed, and biopsies revealed dilated intestinal lymphatics with broadened villi in the small intestine. Secondary causes of intestinal lymphangiectasia were ruled out, confirming the diagnosis of PIL. The patient was treated with a high‐protein, low‐fat diet supplemented with medium‐chain triglycerides, resulting in significant clinical improvement.https://doi.org/10.1002/jgh3.70102endoscopyprimary intestinal lymphangiectasiaprotein losing enteropathy |
| spellingShingle | Li‐Han Goh Madhavan Manoharan Khean‐Lee Goh Elderly Onset Primary Intestinal Lymphangiectasia—A Rare Case JGH Open endoscopy primary intestinal lymphangiectasia protein losing enteropathy |
| title | Elderly Onset Primary Intestinal Lymphangiectasia—A Rare Case |
| title_full | Elderly Onset Primary Intestinal Lymphangiectasia—A Rare Case |
| title_fullStr | Elderly Onset Primary Intestinal Lymphangiectasia—A Rare Case |
| title_full_unstemmed | Elderly Onset Primary Intestinal Lymphangiectasia—A Rare Case |
| title_short | Elderly Onset Primary Intestinal Lymphangiectasia—A Rare Case |
| title_sort | elderly onset primary intestinal lymphangiectasia a rare case |
| topic | endoscopy primary intestinal lymphangiectasia protein losing enteropathy |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/jgh3.70102 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lihangoh elderlyonsetprimaryintestinallymphangiectasiaararecase AT madhavanmanoharan elderlyonsetprimaryintestinallymphangiectasiaararecase AT kheanleegoh elderlyonsetprimaryintestinallymphangiectasiaararecase |