Case 8-1984

Abstract

Presentation of CaseA 70-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of dyspnea.She was well until 46 years earlier, when bilateral thrombophlebitis developed, and ligation of the inferior vena cava was performed. Persistent peripheral edema developed. Thirteen years before admission she began to experience postprandial abdominal pain and vomiting. Eleven years before entry she was first seen at this hospital, where examination showed that she was thin, with + + + + peripheral edema. The protein was 3.4 g (the albumin 2.1 g and the globulin 1.3 g) per 100 ml. A d-xylose absorption test revealed 1.3 g . . .