Protein-losing enteropathy caused by Yersinia enterocolitica colitis

ABSTRACT

A 7-month-old boy was admitted with acute gastro-enteritis accompanied by fever and hyponatraemic dehydration. The clinical course was complicated by severe hypokalaemia and hypo-albuminaemia with anasarca. Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) owing to Yersinia enterocolitica colitis was diagnosed and was complicated by fungal sepsis owing to Kodomaea ohmeri. Colonoscopy demonstrated multiple diffuse ulcers and sub-epithelial haemorrhages extending from the rectum to the hepatic angle. He required prolonged nutritional support comprising partial parenteral feeding for 10 days, followed by a hypo-allergenic diet until 13 months of age when cow milk was tolerated. He was discharged on a normal diet and in good health at 19 months of age.

Abbreviations AVPU scale: A alert, V verbally responsive, P painfully responsive, U unresponsive; CMV: cytomegalovirus; EBV: Epstein–Barr virus; HIV: human immunodeficiency virus; Ig: immunoglobulin; IBD: inflammatory bowel disease; IPEX: immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked syndrome; PICU: paediatric intensive care unit; PLE: protein-losing enteropathy

KEYWORDS:

• Protein-losing enteropathy
• Yersinia enterocolitica
• colitis

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.