Protein-losing enteropathy due to thrombophlebitis of the mesenteric vein: report of a case.

We report herein the case of a 70-year-old woman with enteropathy accompanied by protein loss, the cause of which was found to be thrombophlebitis of the mesenteric vein. The patient was admitted to our hospital for investigations to determine the cause of hypoproteinemia. She had suffered an episode of left abdominal pain with high fever and vomiting lasting 10 days, 8 months prior to her admission. She also had a 6-year history of uncontrolled diabetes. The alpha1-antitrypsin clearance was 85.7 ml/day, suggesting protein-losing enteropathy. A scintigraphy with 99m-technetium-human serum albumin disclosed protein leakage into the intestine. X-Rays and computed tomography showed a stenotic and thickened area of small intestine 50 cm in length. Thus, a laparotomy was performed to resect this part of the intestine which was found to have undergone past thrombophlebitic changes. Following the operation, the alpha1-antitrypsin clearance decreased to within the normal range and the patient gained 5 kg in weight.