Intractable Watery Diarrhoea, Hypokalaemia, and Achlorhydria Associated with Non-Pancreatic Retroperitoneal Neurogenous Tumour Containing Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (V. I. P.)

Abstract

Fausa, O., Fretheim, B., Elgjo, K., Semb, L. S. & Gjone, E. Intractable watery diarrhoea, hypokalaemia, and achlorhydria associated with non-pancreatic retroperitoneal neurogenous tumour containing vasoactive intestinal peptide (V.I.P.). Scand. J. Gastroent. 1973, 8, 713-717.

A 60-year-old patient with a one-year history of intractable watery diarrhoea is described as having a typical ‘WDHA-syndrome’. She was cured after removal of a non-pancreatic retroperitoneal tumour, histologically described as a complex ganglioneuroma. Preoperatively there was a high urinary ex-cretion of catecholamines. The tumour contained a gastric secretory inhibitor demonstrated by bioassay, and by a specific radioimmunoassay high tumour content of vasoactive intestinal peptide (V.I.P.) was found.

Key-words::

• Achlorhydria
• diarrhoea
• neurogenous tumour
• vasoactive intestinal peptides
• WDHA-syndrome