For the management of protein-losing enteropathy, Gut-heart-relation in patients with Fontan circulation

Protein-losing enteropathy, PLE, is the abnormal loss of serum proteins into the intestinal lumen. It occurs in 5% to 12% of individuals after Fontan palliation, described as early as 1980 by Crupi et al. (1), followed by the first multicentre study published in 1998 by Mertens et al. [1]. Although Survival among those with PLE has improved from 50% to 88% at 5  years with improved treatment strategies in the current era [2], morbidity after diagnosis remains high [3]. Morbidity has been associated with higher pressure of the Fontan route, higher pulmonary vascular resistance, decreased ventricular function, lower cardiac index, lower mixed venous satura tion, and New York Heart Association functional class>2 at diagnosis [2], suggesting failing Fontan.

Source: International Journal of Cardiology - January 18, 2024 Category: Cardiology Authors: Yusuke Yumita, Koichiro Niwa Tags: Editorial Source Type: research