Korean J Med.  2011 Sep;81(3):372-377.

A Case of Malabsorption Induced by Blind Loop Syndrome in a Patient with Liver Cirrhosis

• Yoo JY
• Kang HM
• Choi JW
• Jeong SH
• Kim HH
• Kim YH
• Lee HS

Abstract

Of the various causes of malabsorption, to our knowledge, blind loop syndrome has been reported in Korea only rarely. Here, we report the case of a 63-year-old woman with hepatitis C virus-associated liver cirrhosis. The patient complained of abdominal distension and had an abnormal serum biochemistry caused by blind loop syndrome related to childhood abdominal surgery. Her laboratory findings showed an iron deficiency anemia, hypocholesterolemia, hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia, and were confounded with those of liver cirrhosis. She underwent resection of the blind loop segment of the small intestine, after which her abdominal symptoms and abnormal laboratory findings improved, although they did not completely normalize due to her liver cirrhosis.

Keyword

Malabsorption; Blind loop syndrome; Liver cirrhosis; Surgical resection

MeSH Terms

Anemia, Iron-Deficiency
Biochemistry
Blind Loop Syndrome
Female
Hepatitis C
Humans
Hypoalbuminemia
Hypoproteinemia
Intestine, Small
Korea
Liver
Liver Cirrhosis
Middle Aged