[Protein-losing enteropathy in chronic constrictive pericarditis in children]

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Gastroenterology
• Cardiology
• Internal Medicine

Context:

• Chronic constrictive pericarditis is a rare condition affecting children.
• Protein-dispersive enteropathy is characterized by protein loss through the intestines.
• The link between these two conditions was previously unclear.

Purpose:

• To investigate the association between chronic constrictive pericarditis and protein-dispersive enteropathy in children.
• To explore the mechanism of increased intestinal protein permeability in affected children.
• To evaluate the efficacy of pericardiotomy in resolving these gastrointestinal and nutritional issues.

Summary:

• Three children with chronic constrictive pericarditis presented with protein-dispersive enteropathy.
• Increased intestinal permeability to proteins was confirmed in one patient.
• Despite normal intestinal biopsies in one case, all patients experienced rapid resolution of pseudo-cirrhosis and normalized serum proteins after partial pericardiotomy.

Impact:

• This study highlights a novel gastrointestinal manifestation of chronic constrictive pericarditis in children.
• It suggests that addressing the underlying cardiac condition is crucial for managing associated enteropathy.
• The findings underscore the importance of considering cardiac causes in pediatric patients with unexplained protein loss and intestinal dysfunction.