Intestinal lymphangiectasia markedly improved with antiplasmin therapy

Abstract

A 35-yr-old woman with intestinal lymphangiectasia was treated with trans-4-aminomethyl cyclohexane carboxylic acid. After 6 wk of antiplasmin therapy, her serum total protein increased to normal levels and 131I-polyvinyl pyrrolidone excretion was also normalized. With a daily administration of trans-4-aminomethyl cyclohexane carboxylic acid, the patient has manifested no symptoms for 8 yr up to the present. Throughout the clinical course, the values for euglobulin lysis time showed a close relationship to changes in serum total protein. It was then suggested that increased plasma fibrinolysis may enhance lymphatic permeability to plasma proteins. During this treatment, a decreased percentage of T lymphocytes became normalized together with serum immunoglobulin values. In addition, the therapy has resulted in the disappearance of duodenal lesions observed endoscopically.