Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Case Reports
. 2022 May 15;22(1):246.
doi: 10.1186/s12876-022-02318-6.

Hypomagnesemia in intestinal lymphangiectasia: a case report and review of the literature

Hao Feng  1 , Linfeng Zou  2 , Xiao Zhai  3 , Shengyu Zhang  4 , Jingnan Li  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Hypomagnesemia in intestinal lymphangiectasia: a case report and review of the literature

Hao Feng et al. BMC Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Background: Intestinal lymphangiectasia (IL) is a rare disease characterized by dilation of lymphatic vessels and leakage of lymphatic fluids into the intestinal lumen, causing depletion of lymphocytes, protein, lipids, fat-soluble vitamins, and electrolytes. Hypomagnesemia can occur in IL patients but is seldom discussed.

Case presentation: A 30-year-old Tibetan woman who had chronic diarrhea, edema, tetany, and tingling was diagnosed with IL. Prominent hypomagnesemia was noticed. She was treated with a medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) diet and nutrient supplementation with satisfactory results. We also present a systematic review of hypomagnesemia in IL cases from the published literature.

Conclusions: Hypomagnesemia may be an overlooked complication of IL, thus monitoring serum magnesium concentrations in IL patients is crucial.

Keywords: Case report; Hypoproteinemia; Intestinal lymphangiectasia; Protein-losing enteropathy; Waldmann’s disease.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Whitish granules in the 2nd part of the duodenum seen by endoscopy
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Treatment and changes in electrolytes. A medium chain triglyceride diet and mineral supplements were given to restore the electrolyte balance. Potassium chloride, calcium carbonate, and calcitriol were given from Day 0, and a medium chain triglyceride diet, intravenous magnesium sulfate, and intravenous sodium glycerophosphate were given from Day 3. From Day 6, magnesium sulfate was given orally. The electrolyte status gradually improved. KCl, potassium chloride; CaCO3, calcium carbonate; MgSO4, magnesium sulfate; MCT, medium chain triglyceride; g, gram; IV, intravenous drip; po, orally; qd, once daily; tid, three times a day
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Huber R, Semmler G, Mayr A, Offner F, Datz C. Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia in an adult patient: a case report and review of literature. World J Gastroenterol. 2020;26(48):7707–18. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v26.i48.7707. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Alshikho MJ, Talas JM, Noureldine SI, Zazou S, Addas A, Kurabi H, et al. Intestinal lymphangiectasia: insights on management and literature review. Am J Case Rep. 2016;17:512–22. doi: 10.12659/AJCR.899636. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Ahmed F, Mohammed A. Magnesium: the forgotten electrolyte—a review on hypomagnesemia. Med Sci. 2019;7(4):56. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Altın Z, Atabay Y, Özer S, Karakoyun M, Ekmekçi S, Yürekli EY, et al. Primary intestinal lymphangiectasia and a review of the current literature. Turk J Gastroenterol Off J Turk Soc Gastroenterol. 2018;29(6):714–6. doi: 10.5152/tjg.2018.18596. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Lu J, Zhai H. Exacerbation of primary intestinal lymphangiectasia during late pregnancy and recovery after delivery: a case report and literature review. Medicine. 2017;96(35):e7928. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000007928. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources