PRIMARY LUPUS-ASSOCIATED PROTEIN-LOSING ENTEROPATHY

A 79-year-old native American female with a history of diabetes mellit us, but no history of hepatic or renal disease, presented with anasarc a and hypoalbuminemia. Laboratory tests for fecal alpha(1)-and an indi um III-labeled plasma transferrin nuclear scan revealed a protein-losi ng enteropathy. A serological test was positive for antinuclear antibo dy in a titer of 1:1250 with a homogeneous pattern. This finding combi ned with low normal serum complement levels suggested the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This case is unusual in that prot ein-losing enteropathy was the only presenting symptoms. The late onse t of this disease is also unusual.