Exudative enteropathy is in no way associated with inflammatory processes in the intestine, since this is a pathology that is combined with enzymeopathy or a congenital anomaly. It is not always possible to determine the disease immediately, for this diagnosis will be required. Enteropathy cannot be considered a disease that occurs quite often, but any such case needs to be investigated in detail in order to be able to choose the right treatment.
Clinical picture
Exudative enteropathy is most often manifested in children. The fact is that the disease itself begins to develop only if the activity in the production is disrupted or the enzymes that directly participate in the digestion or absorption of various nutrients are completely absent. Most often, congenital enteropathy occurs, but there are cases of acquired disease.
In the first case, the development of the disease is caused by mutations that occur at the genetic level, but the acquired forms are caused by dystrophic changes in the mucous membrane of the small intestine.
Causes
Today, the causes of exudative enteropathy are well understood. Consider the main ones:
- If there is gluten intolerance in the body or an infection by bacteria, parasites has occurred, then it is quite possible that this disease will begin to develop.
- The disease can develop against the background of toxic and radiation effects.
- When a person has a disease of the blood or endocrine system.
- Heredity.
If you can determine the cause of the disease, then you can achieve a full recovery. As soon as the pathological effect is eliminated, it will be possible to restore the structure and function, achieving complete remission. If the disease is severe, the prognosis for recovery can be much worse.
Loss of protein with lymph
Protein deficiency is caused by the loss of serum proteins to the intestinal lumen through blood vessels. Most often, the problem is congenital abnormalities when there is intestinal lymphangiectanzia. The second reason for the loss of protein is associated with the expansion of the lymphatic vessels, it is associated with heart diseases or after chemotherapy.
When protein loss occurs with exudate
Loss of protein can occur if the intestinal mucosa is broken, for example, erosion or ulcers can form. Also, the reason may be hidden in the increased insight of the mucous membrane. The main danger is that the protein enters the gastrointestinal tract.
If lymph stagnation occurs, then there may be a large loss of lymphocytes and immunoglobulins, which leads to impaired immunity, impaired absorption of fats and certain vitamins.
How to recognize a disease
First of all, exudative enteropathy is accompanied by chronic diarrhea and impaired absorption of nutrients into the intestines. If there is a pronounced fermentopathy, then intolerance appears. Feces become liquid and foaming. If you carefully study the emptying, then in the stool you can see undigested food particles, and when studying the tests, the doctor can detect a large amount of protein in the stool. If the disease is severe, then, most likely, urge to the toilet can be frequent, even in some cases up to 15 times a day.
If the patient does not take any measures, then multivitamin deficiency occurs. Another symptom that cannot be ignored is rapid weight loss. Over time, pain also occurs, but such pain passes quickly enough and manifests itself in attacks.
Diagnostics
Exudative enteropathy is diagnosed using laboratory and instrumental methods. As for laboratory studies, biochemical blood tests are performed. In such an analysis, anemia with a decrease in hemoglobin and red blood cells is very often found. This may be directly related to malabsorption of iron and vitamin in the small intestine. It should be noted that laboratory studies are not the only method of researching the body. Additionally, the doctor may prescribe a biochemical blood test.
Due to malabsorption of nutrients in the intestines, a shortage of calcium, magnesium, chlorine and protein will be detected in the body. If the disease proceeds in a severe form, then albumin proteins may be practically absent in the analyzes. Adults are often prescribed an instrumental examination such as barium radiography or endoscopy. With the help of these studies, you can detect large ulcers and fistulas that formed in the small intestine and during the start of treatment. In some cases, specific diagnostics can be used, such as exercise tests with gliadin, a biopsy of the mucous membrane of the small intestine. To determine the disease, a coprogram is performed. Decryption in children and adults of such analyzes can also indicate the presence of the disease.
Treatment
Treatment of exudative enteropathy in the first place should begin with the elimination of the cause that led to the fact that the disease began to develop. The doctor will definitely prescribe a special diet that will help to eliminate the use of certain products that contain glutogen, for example, they include: wheat, barley and oats. These products can be replaced without problems with rice, potatoes and boiled meat. The patient's nutrition should be designed so that there are no allergens. In complex cases, exudative enteropathy can be treated with antibiotics and antibacterial drugs.
Additionally, drug treatment can be aimed at normalizing the digestive process, drugs help improve the absorption of nutrients. In the case when the protein level drops to a critical point, then albumin is introduced into the body by intravenous injection. As for the prevention of this disease, it consists in proper nutrition and diet, which helps to establish the work of the small intestine. Much depends on the form of the disease, the prognosis for a full recovery also depends on this. If a person promptly seeks qualified help and begins competent treatment, then it will be possible to achieve long-term remission even in a difficult stage. In very rare cases, resection may be required, most often an operation to remove part of a diseased organ is performed if exudative enteropathy is congenital. In any case, it will not be possible to cope with the disease on its own, so the help of a specialist will be required.