[Diagnosis of protein-losing gastroenteropathy by 111In-transferrin scanning and fecal excretion test].

A total of twelve patients with gastroenteropathy were studied for possible protein loss. The underlying diseases were intestinal lymphangiectasia, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease in 2 patients each; and Ménétrier's disease, Cronkhite-Canada syndrome, postgastrectomy syndrome, severe atrophic gastritis, gastric cancer and gastroenteropathy of unknown origin in 1 patient each. The controls used in this study were four healthy volunteer and 9 patients with benign disease not accompanied by lesions in the digestive tract and protein loss, 111In-transferrin (Tf) was prepared by incubating 2-3 mCi of 111In-chloride with 15-20 ml of each patient's plasma in a sterilized vial at room temperature for 1 hour. After i.v. injection of 111In-Tf, the patients were scanned at given intervals of time for 72 hours to localize protein loss. 72-hour fecal 111In-Tf excretion was also measured. The following results were obtained: (1) 111In-Tf was detected in the feces of all patients. The recovery rate in the patient group was 7.95 +/- 3.65%, which was significantly higher than 0.48 +/- 0.26% in the control group (p less than 0.01). (2) However, 111In-Tf scanning showed the site of protein loss only in 6 patients. Negative scan in six other patients was thought to be associated with extensive inflammation and severe diarrhea. (3) Five of the twelve patients were observed before and after treatment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)