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Signalment
Description
Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) can result from any intestinal disease which produces sufficienct inflammation, congestion or bleeding. This causes protein to leak into the intestines, which exceeds the gut lumen protein synthesis. Hence, there are numerous causes of PLE, for example lymphangiectasia, infectious, structural, neoplasia, inflammation, endoparasites and gastrointestinal haemorrhage. Most common causes in adult dogs are inflammatory bowel disease and alimentary tract lymphoma, whereas most common causes in very young dogs are hookworms and chronic intussusception. PLE is less common in cats but when it is present, lymphocytic-plasmacytic enteritis or lymphoma are the most common causes. Non-intestinal diseases which can be associated with PLE include congestive heart failure,
Diagnosis
Clinical Signs
Laboratory Tests
Haematology
Biochemistry
Other Tests
Diagnostic Imaging
Histopathology
Treatment
Prognosis
References
- Ettinger, S.J. and Feldman, E. C. (2000) Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine Diseases of the Dog and Cat Volume 2 (Fifth Edition) W.B. Saunders Company.
- Hall, E.J, Simpson, J.W. and Williams, D.A. (2005) BSAVA Manual of Canine and Feline Gastroenterology (2nd Edition) BSAVA
- Nelson, R.W. and Couto, C.G. (2009) Small Animal Internal Medicine (Fourth Edition) Mosby Elsevier.