A Rare Case of Primary Intestinal Lymphangiectasia Presenting as Recurrent Hypocalcemic Seizures

  • Unique Paper ID: 174412
  • Volume: 11
  • Issue: 10
  • PageNo: 3621-3622
  • Abstract:
  • Background: Primary Intestinal Lymphangiectasia (PIL) is a rare disorder characterized by protein-losing enteropathy due to dilated intestinal lymphatics, leading to hypoalbuminemia, lymphopenia, and malabsorption. Its presentation with recurrent hypocalcemic seizures is highly unusual. Case Presentation: We report the case of a 6-month-old male who presented with recurrent generalized tonic-clonic seizures, preceded by episodes of non-bloody diarrhea. Initial workup revealed severe hypocalcemia, hypoalbuminemia, and hypomagnesemia. Infective and renal causes were ruled out. The infant had a history of inadequate nutrition, compounded by maternal postpartum depression and cholecystectomy. Despite calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D supplementation, symptoms recurred, necessitating further evaluation. Endoscopic biopsy revealed dilated, globular, whitish villi in the terminal ileum, confirming the diagnosis of Primary Intestinal Lymphangiectasia. The child was managed with albumin infusion, vitamin supplementation, and subcutaneous octreotide. A dietitian-recommended high-protein, fat-restricted, MCT-based diet was initiated, leading to clinical improvement. Conclusion: This case highlights an uncommon presentation of PIL with recurrent hypocalcemic seizures, emphasizing the importance of considering protein-losing enteropathy in cases of unexplained hypocalcemia, hypoalbuminemia, and malabsorption. Early recognition and dietary modifications are crucial for long-term management.

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Copyright © 2025 Authors retain the copyright of this article. This article is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

BibTeX

@article{174412,
        author = {Dr Ananya G Rao and Dr Zeeshan Desai},
        title = {A Rare Case of Primary Intestinal Lymphangiectasia Presenting as Recurrent Hypocalcemic Seizures},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2025},
        volume = {11},
        number = {10},
        pages = {3621-3622},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=174412},
        abstract = {Background: Primary Intestinal Lymphangiectasia (PIL) is a rare disorder characterized by protein-losing enteropathy due to dilated intestinal lymphatics, leading to hypoalbuminemia, lymphopenia, and malabsorption. Its presentation with recurrent hypocalcemic seizures is highly unusual.
Case Presentation: We report the case of a 6-month-old male who presented with recurrent generalized tonic-clonic seizures, preceded by episodes of non-bloody diarrhea. Initial workup revealed severe hypocalcemia, hypoalbuminemia, and hypomagnesemia. Infective and renal causes were ruled out. The infant had a history of inadequate nutrition, compounded by maternal postpartum depression and cholecystectomy. Despite calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D supplementation, symptoms recurred, necessitating further evaluation.
Endoscopic biopsy revealed dilated, globular, whitish villi in the terminal ileum, confirming the diagnosis of Primary Intestinal Lymphangiectasia. The child was managed with albumin infusion, vitamin supplementation, and subcutaneous octreotide. A dietitian-recommended high-protein, fat-restricted, MCT-based diet was initiated, leading to clinical improvement.
Conclusion: This case highlights an uncommon presentation of PIL with recurrent hypocalcemic seizures, emphasizing the importance of considering protein-losing enteropathy in cases of unexplained hypocalcemia, hypoalbuminemia, and malabsorption. Early recognition and dietary modifications are crucial for long-term management.},
        keywords = {},
        month = {March},
        }

Cite This Article

  • ISSN: 2349-6002
  • Volume: 11
  • Issue: 10
  • PageNo: 3621-3622

A Rare Case of Primary Intestinal Lymphangiectasia Presenting as Recurrent Hypocalcemic Seizures

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