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Published on: November 30, 2022
Chylomicron retention disease: a rare aetiology of failure to thrive
Yojana Sunkoj1, Zhongxin Yu2, Adnan Altaf3
1Section of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Pediatrics, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA dryojanasunkoj@gmail.com.
Insights
Chylomicron retention disease (CRD) is a rare cause of failure to thrive (FTT) in children. Early consideration of CRD is crucial, especially when common treatments fail or concerning symptoms are present.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Rare Genetic Disorders
- Metabolic Diseases
Background:
- Failure to thrive (FTT) in children has a wide range of causes, including rare conditions.
- Recognizing uncommon etiologies is vital, particularly when standard treatments are ineffective or other symptoms are present.
Observation:
- This case report focuses on chylomicron retention disease (CRD) as an underrecognized cause of FTT.
- CRD symptoms are often nonspecific, leading to diagnostic delays.
- Diagnosis is confirmed through genetic testing and small intestinal biopsy histology.
Findings:
- Chylomicron retention disease (CRD) presents a rare but significant etiology for pediatric failure to thrive (FTT).
- The nonspecific presentation of CRD can mask its underlying cause, delaying appropriate diagnosis and intervention.
Implications:
- Clinicians should consider CRD in the differential diagnosis of FTT, especially after excluding more common causes.
- Timely diagnosis of CRD through genetic and histological analysis is essential for effective management.
- Raising awareness of rare conditions like CRD can improve diagnostic pathways for complex pediatric cases.
Abstract:
The aetiology of failure to thrive (FTT) in children is broad, of which some conditions are extremely rare. It is important to consider these rarer conditions, especially in the setting of other concerning signs/symptoms or when there is no improvement with conventional treatment. In this case report we highlight such a rare condition-chylomicron retention disease (CRD) as an aetiology of FTT. CRD often presents with non-specific symptoms, resulting in delayed diagnosis which is established by genetic workup and histology from small intestinal biopsies. Despite being rare, CRD needs to be considered as one of the differential diagnoses after ruling out the more common causes of FTT.
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