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Chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction in a patient with heart-lung transplant therapeutic effect of leuprolide acetate

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Summary

After orthotopic heart-lung transplantation and immunosuppression, a patient developed intractable nausea and vomiting in association with chronic cytomegalovirus infection. Chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction was documented by antroduodenal manometric study. The patient was treated with leuprolide acetate with resolution of symptoms and improvement of intestinal motility abnormality. This case demonstrates an association of chronic viral infection with acquired intestinal motor disorders. Gastrointestinal complications that are common after organ transplantation might be due to acquired neuromuscular disease. The potential efficacy of leuprolide in such neuromuscular disorders provides a rationale for diagnostic motility studies in patients with “functional” gastrointestinal disorders.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 77550-2780, Galveston, Texas

    John R. Mathias MD, Gordon S. Baskin MD, PhD, Vonda G. Reeves-Darby MD, Mary H. Clench PhD, Lesa L. Smith PA-C & John H. Calhoon MD

  2. Division of Gastroenterology and Human Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas

    John R. Mathias MD, Gordon S. Baskin MD, PhD, Vonda G. Reeves-Darby MD, Mary H. Clench PhD, Lesa L. Smith PA-C & John H. Calhoon MD

  3. Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas

    John R. Mathias MD, Gordon S. Baskin MD, PhD, Vonda G. Reeves-Darby MD, Mary H. Clench PhD, Lesa L. Smith PA-C & John H. Calhoon MD

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  1. John R. Mathias MD
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  2. Gordon S. Baskin MD, PhD
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  3. Vonda G. Reeves-Darby MD
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  4. Mary H. Clench PhD
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  5. Lesa L. Smith PA-C
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  6. John H. Calhoon MD
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Mathias, J.R., Baskin, G.S., Reeves-Darby, V.G. et al. Chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction in a patient with heart-lung transplant therapeutic effect of leuprolide acetate. Digest Dis Sci 37, 1761–1768 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01299872

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01299872

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