Traumatic tricuspid regurgitation resulting in protein-losing enteropathy: a case report.

Protein-losing enteropathy (PLE) with hypoproteinemia is an uncommon but serious complication of congestive heart failure. Reports of patients with PLE resulting from severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) caused by trauma are rare. A 66-year-old male diabetic patient had a chest contusion as a result of a road traffic accident, and one year later suffered from progressively generalized edema. Examination revealed severe TR with a high central venous pressure and PLE with serum protein deficiency. Treatment with albumin administration and diuretic therapy proved ineffective, and consequently the TR was corrected by valve replacement. Postoperatively, the serum protein level gradually returned to normal. Surgical intervention successfully improved this patient with severe TR and PLE resistant to medical treatment.