Jejunal vasculitis with protein-losing enteropathy after bone marrow transplantation.

A 37-yr-old white man experienced crampy abdominal pain beginning 21 days after successful bone marrow transplantation for chronic myelogenous leukemia. Generalized edema and hypoproteinemia developed. Symptoms persisted until 61 days post-transplant, when the patient developed an acute abdomen. At laparotomy, an edematous segment of jejunum was resected. Pathological examination showed submucosal vasculitis and necrotizing enteritis. Serum protein and albumin levels returned to normal within a few weeks after surgery. Vasculitis of the gastrointestinal tract should be considered in the differential diagnosis of protein-losing enteropathy after bone marrow transplantation.