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GE-Portuguese Journal of Gastroenterology
Print version ISSN 2341-4545
Abstract
CORREIA, João et al. Small Bowel Villous Atrophy in a Young Patient: A Challenging Diagnosis. GE Port J Gastroenterol [online]. 2024, vol.31, n.3, pp.44-50. Epub June 28, 2024. ISSN 2341-4545. https://doi.org/10.1159/000531396.
Common variable immunodeficiency enteropathy is a sprue-like disease, which may manifest as a severe mal-absorption syndrome with nutritional deficits and cachexia. The authors report a case of a 33-year-old Afghan man, who presented to the emergency department due to chronic watery diarrhea and severe malnourishment. He had been previously misdiagnosed with celiac disease in his early adulthood; however, this was based on inconclusive findings. After a thorough diagnostic workup, the final diagnosis of common variable immunodeficiency enteropathy with symptomatic norovirus infection of the gut was obtained during his prolonged hospitalization. A slow but progressive improvement was observed with immunoglobulin replacement therapy, corticotherapy, and ribavirin treatment. This is a noteworthy case of a rare malabsorption disorder, and it reviews important aspects concerning the differential diagnosis of small bowel villous atrophy of unknown etiology, as well as gastrointestinal manifestations of common variable im-munodeficiency disorder.
Keywords : Celiac disease; Common variable immunodeficiency; Small bowel.