About PLE

PLE, or Protein Losing Enteropathy, is a loss of blood protein (albumin) through the intestinal tract. When the protein level in the bloodstream falls, blood plasma begins to leak into the tissues of the body. This process is evidenced by edema (swelling) in the abdomen, the extremities and face. Current treatments include steroid therapy, hormone therapy and blood thinners each of which has negative consequences with long term use, and painful intravenous albumin boosts which are essentially “band-aid” fixes. None of the treatments really addresses the root cause. As this disease progresses the body begins to turn on itself by attacking internal organs and other structures as sources of protein.

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