USE OF HEPARIN IN THE TREATMENT OF PROTEIN-LOSING ENTEROPATHY AFTER FONTAN OPERATION FOR COMPLEX CONGENITAL HEART-DISEASE

Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) is a serious complication of the Font an operation and is associated with pronounced mortality. Medical mana gement of PLE has been only partially successful, A recent report note d dramatic improvement in patients with PLE within 3 weeks of subcutan eous administration of heparin, We report a case of reversal of PLE wi th resolution of clinical symptoms and normalization of serum albumin, total protein, and fetal alpha(1)-antitrypsin values after several mo nths of heparin treatment, Our findings substantiate those recently re ported but suggest that reversal of PLE may necessitate more than a fe w weeks of heparin therapy.